Accession Number:

AD1155836

Title:

Defense Trade: Report and Recommendations of the Defense Offsets Commission Still Pending

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Congressional Report]

Corporate Author:

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Schinasi, Katherine V.

Report Date:

2003-05-30

Pagination or Media Count:

11

Abstract:

Export sales of defense-related products often include offsets-- industrial and commercial benefits, such as technology transfer, which U.S. companies provide to foreign governments as incentives or conditions for purchasing military goods and services. Over the past decade, offsets have increased and in 1998, they totaled about 3 billion per year. In December 2000, GAO reported that countries are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their use of offsets to achieve regional industrial and employment goals. In 1999, Congress established a National Commission to report on the extent and nature of offsets in international defense trade by October 2001. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget OMB was designated chair of the Commission. Congress also required the President to report, within 90 days after the Commissions final report, on the feasibility and desirability of seeking a multilateral treaty with international trading partners on standards for use of defense offsets. GAOs report responds to the congressional mandate for GAO to monitor and periodically report on the Presidents progress in reaching a multilateral treaty.

Descriptors:

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management
• Economics and Cost Analysis
• Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]