United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-04-24 monographic deposited born digital 26 p. GA 1.13:T-NSIAD-96-151 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-151 P0b002ee18037cd27 f:ns96151t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-151 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-151 T-NSIAD-96-151 International trade Energy industry Exporting Energy marketing Foreign trade policies Foreign trade agreements Sales promotion International travel International economic relations Business assistance India Pakistan China South Africa Testimony NSIAD

GAO discussed four trade missions sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE), focusing on: (1) DOE authority and role in these missions; (2) the results of the missions; and (3) management weaknesses inherent in DOE-sponsored trade missions. GAO noted that: (1) the Secretary of Energy has explicit statutory authority to undertake export promotion activities; (2) in 1995, DOE funding for export promotion totalled $14 million; (3) DOE performed advocacy on behalf of U.S. energy companies seeking to capture some of the emerging energy markets in China, India, and Pakistan; (4) it is difficult to measure the impact of these federal advocacy activities because sales forecasts are unclear, of the numerous participants involved, and of problems in calculating the value of sales agreements and maintenance contracts; (5) the four trade missions resulted in $19.7 billion in potential and finalized fuel supply and power purchase agreements and oil and gas exploration agreements; (6) DOE subsequently reported that finalized agreements totalled $2.03 billion, but export data show that the value of these agreements seem to be overstated by over 50 percent; (7) most companies participating in DOE trade missions support DOE efforts, but a few said that they could complete their business agreements without DOE involvement; (8) the planning for these missions is complicated by time constraints, last minute changes in plans, and lack of familiarity with conducting large, overseas trade missions; and (9) DOE has introduced new procedures to correct DOE management weaknesses, but they have not been fully tested in practice. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-151/html/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-151.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-151/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-151.pdf GAO/T-NSIAD-96-151 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-151 Testimony GAO/T-NSIAD-96-151; Energy Department Trade Missions: Authority, Results, and Management Issues; International trade Energy industry Exporting Energy marketing Foreign trade policies Foreign trade agreements Sales promotion International travel International economic relations Business assistance India Pakistan China South Africa Title 15 Section 4727(b)(3)(B) 15 U.S.C. 4727(b)(3)(B) Title 42 Section 13316(b) Title 42 Section 13316(b)(9) Title 42 Section 13361(a) Title 42 Section 13361(d) 42 U.S.C. 13316(b) 42 U.S.C. 13316(b)(9) 42 U.S.C. 13361(a) 42 U.S.C. 13361(d) Volume 106 Page 2186 Volume 106 Page 2776-3133 106 Stat. 2186 106 Stat. 2776-3133 Public Law 102-429 Public Law 102-486 Title 41 Part 101.405 41 CFR Part 101.405