Posts Tagged ‘Francisco Sanchez’

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Farewell and Thank You

November 6, 2013

Francisco Sánchez served with the Department of Commerce for more than four years, and was the Under Secretary of International Trade from March 29, 2010, through November 6, 2013.

Francisco Sánchez speaking at the SelectUSA 2013 Investment Summit

Francisco Sánchez

Today is my last day serving as the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade.

I’ve prepared to make that statement for weeks now, but it’s still a very difficult thing to say.

It’s not a position I leave lightly, but it is one I leave with a great sense of satisfaction at what we have accomplished.

During the more than four years I’ve spent here at the International Trade Administration, the United States has seen remarkable growth in exports, including three consecutive years of record exports. We’re on track for yet another year of record exports in 2013. President Obama’s National Export Initiative is helping make it easier for American companies to increase their exports, bring their products to new markets, and help their businesses grow.

We just concluded the first-ever SelectUSA Investment Summit, which brought together 1,200 global business and economic development leaders to attract foreign direct investment to the United States.

Our national travel and tourism strategy is helping attract record numbers of foreign tourists to the United States. We finalized three free trade agreements and began negotiations on two more. We began new commercial dialogues with growing trade partners that will establish even more export potential in the future.

The most important fact lies behind these records and accomplishments – nearly 10 million American jobs are supported by exports. More than one million of them were created in the last four years. FDI supports more than five million jobs in the United States. Those people have good jobs helping drive our economic recovery.

The great news is that these accomplishments are not going to stop now that I’m leaving.

The numbers had little to do with me; the people behind those numbers are still here. The hard-working civil servants behind these initiatives will continue to serve. The innovative and driven American businesses that created these exports will continue to innovate.

When I walk out the door this afternoon, the muscle behind America’s export strategy remains here, diligently serving the American people.

I leave behind all the confidence in the world in the Department of Commerce team, from Secretary Pritzker all the way across the organization. Deputy Under Secretary of International Trade Ken Hyatt will provide excellent leadership until a new Under Secretary is confirmed.

I await with great anticipation all the future accomplishments that will come from the Department of Commerce. I can’t wait to see the continued successes of American businesses, the expanding commercial relationships with new partners, and the increased partnerships that will grow through trade.

I won’t watch these developments while in public service, but I’ll remain ever grateful for the opportunity I had to serve.

Thank you – all of you – for your support for me and your continued support for American businesses and American workers.

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Leading the Way for Global Higher Education

March 31, 2011

Francisco J. Sánchez is the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade

Today we depart for Jakarta, Indonesia for the first leg of the largest Commerce-led education trade mission ever. I am excited for this mission as we are bringing 56 colleges and universities to explore the opportunities to recruit international students to study in the U.S. as well as possibly setting up partnership and student and faculty exchanges.

I was excited to host my very first Twitter chat earlier today and I was happy to answer questions such as, how are foreign students studying in the U.S. an export and why were Vietnam and Indonesia targeted for this mission. To each, I answered that when foreign students come to study in the United States, their tuition and fees, as well as their living expenses help support the local economy in addition to the national economy. Education services ranks among the top 10 U.S. service exports, right between environmental services and safety and security. These two countries place a high value on higher education and have tremendous potential for sending students to the United States.  And, in Indonesia, boosting the number of Indonesian students studying in the United States is a top priority of the U.S. Embassy.

Building ties with international students not only helps our American students gain a greater level of international understanding—a critical skill for success in the 21st century global economy—but familiarizes future global leaders with the American people and U.S. society.

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Border Export Strategy Impact in El Paso

March 24, 2011

Francisco J. Sánchez is the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade

Today I was in El Paso, Texas with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Alan Bersin, Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to highlight the importance of trade, border security, and the Border Export Strategy.

The International Trade Administration recently launched the Border Export Strategy (BES), which is a priority component of the National Export Initiative, which seeks to double exports from the U.S. by 2015 to support several million jobs.

The City of El Paso is an important gateway between the United States and Mexico, and total merchandise trade that passed through the El Paso district in 2010 amounted to $71.1 billion. More than 80 percent of this trade passed through the port of El Paso.

This strategy is designed to increase the export potential and opportunities for U.S. companies doing business along the shared Canadian and Mexican borders.

We are striving to enhance local public-private trade collaboration and support efforts to reduce trade barriers limiting secure and efficient commerce across our borders.

Despite security challenges in the border region, NAFTA trade statistics show a 29 percent increase in total trade between the U.S. and Mexico from 2009-2010. In addition to close collaboration on security and infrastructure issues in the interagency process, the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security are working together to identify other potential areas for collaboration on U.S. exports. Potential areas include issues related to the Foreign Trade Zones, a review of the targeting efforts for goods and travelers, and technical assistance to other countries in the world, where customs operations are problematic for exporters and need to be modernized.

The City of El Paso sponsors a foreign-trade zone (FTZ) that is currently used by 19 different companies. In 2010, the El Paso FTZ handled $7.3 billion in merchandise – including $1.7 billion in exports – with more than 900 workers employed by the companies using the FTZ. The Foreign Trade Zone program is just one of the ways in which we can boost employment, manufacturing, and exports from the United States.

As we move forward with the implementation of the BES, I look forward to close collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and the City of El Paso.

The U.S.-Mexico border is not a border economy. It is a vital part of the national economy of both nations, and I, for my part, will do what it takes to preserve, protect it and grow it.

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