Today, Secretary Gina M. Raimondo spoke with the Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment Dan Tehan to further discuss the development of President Biden’s Indo-Pacific economic framework. Secretary Raimondo and Minister Tehan also shared updates with each other on progress made to relaunch the U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Working Group, which they jointly announced after their...

Today, Secretary Gina M. Raimondo held a call with Singapore’s Minster for Communications and Information Josephine Teo, where they discussed collaboration on the digital economy and shared updates on the U.S.-Singapore Partnership for Growth and Innovation since their last meeting during Secretary Raimondo’s trip to the region. Secretary Raimondo also welcomed Minister Teo’s thoughts as the...

The Department of Commerce today announced the results of the referendum to establish an industry-funded checkoff program devoted to the research, education, and promotion of concrete masonry products. The Concrete Checkoff Program will be the first-ever Checkoff Program at the Department of Commerce. The referendum, which passed with support from 62% of Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) Manufacturers...

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) estimates that the global sale of counterfeit goods is above $2 trillion . The damage they cause goes well beyond economic repercussions for honest businesses and consumers – counterfeits are cause for serious safety concerns. This is especially important as retailers and their customers are in the midst of the holiday shopping season. Keep...

Today, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) took action to address the ongoing threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy presented by the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s efforts to develop and deploy biotechnology and other technologies for military applications and human rights abuses. BIS is also taking action against entities operating in the PRC...

The United States and Mexico agree to work on specific activities under each of the four pillars of the HLED , relaunched on September 9, 2021. Pillar I: Building Back Together Strengthening Supply Chains and Coordinating Supply Chain Management in a Crisis Seeks opportunities to complement supply chain needs of both countries by establishing a Working Group that intends to identify specific...

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo today announced the 60 finalists for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) $1 billion “ Build Back Better Regional Challenge ” – the marquee of EDA’s American Rescue Plan programs – that aims to boost economic pandemic recovery and rebuild American communities, including some that have been grappling with decades of disinvestment. The...

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and Senator Raphael Warnock will make a major national Economic Development Administration (EDA) American Rescue Plan grant announcement in support of locally-driven efforts to boost regional economies in Atlanta and across the nation at an event on Monday, December 13, 2021, at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs in Atlanta. Following the...