The Department of Commerce today announced the beginning of a 30-day voting period for certain manufacturers to decide whether to establish an industry-funded checkoff program devoted to the research, education, and promotion of concrete masonry products. A checkoff is an industry-supported, industry-led program designed to have industry-wide participation and funding to advance the industry and...

The strategic leverage of data will also provide increased competitive advantage to U.S. businesses and research institution. Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced a series of tools and initiatives to execute the Department of Commerce’s Data Strategy for fiscal years 2021-2024. With representation from every bureau, Commerce’s Data Governance Board (CDGB) developed this...

Yesterday, Deputy Secretary Don Graves met with the Singapore Ambassador to the United States Ashok Mirpuri to discuss joint efforts to advance the U.S.-Singapore commercial relationship, including work towards the U.S.-Singapore Partnership for Growth and Innovation (PGI) that was announced following Vice President Kamala Harris’ August visit to Singapore . They welcomed new areas of cooperation...

Today, Deputy Secretary Don Graves and Lithuanian Minister of Economy and Innovations Ausrine Armonaite met to discuss opportunities to grow the commercial relationship between the U.S. and Lithuania. They also discussed cooperation on resilient supply chains and efforts to create meaningful commercial outcomes for both our countries’ businesses and citizens through the U.S.-EU Trade and...

Today, Secretary Raimondo met with the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB) to discuss how to accelerate the recovery and growth of the travel and tourism industry. The Secretary was joined by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients, who provided an update on the Administration’s plan to drive additional vaccination progress this fall and accelerate our path out of the...

Today, Secretary Raimondo & Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq al Marri, met to witness the renewal of a memorandum of understanding initially established in 2016. This renewed MOU will broaden the scope of collaboration and allow for future bilateral programming to promote greater innovation in both economies. Additionally, the Secretary and Minister...

Today, Deputy Secretary Don Graves met with Vice Minister for International Affairs Hirose Naoshi of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) to discuss the U.S.-Japan commercial and industrial relationship. During their meeting, the Deputy Secretary and the Vice Minister discussed bilateral cooperation on strengthening collective supply chain resilience and achieving prosperity and...

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo issued the following statement regarding the first session of the relaunched U.S.-Mexico High-Level Economic Dialogue, which was held today at the White House. “Today, I was honored to co-chair the first U.S.-Mexico High-Level Economic Dialogue that Presidents Biden and López Obrador agreed to relaunch in March 2021. I am grateful to have been joined by...