---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 4003"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "4003"
heading: "Office of Export Trade in Department of Commerce"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/4003"
units:
  - "Chapter 66 — Promotion of Export Trade"
  - "Subchapter I — Export Trading Companies and Trade Associations"
---

# §4003. Office of Export Trade in Department of Commerce


The Secretary of Commerce shall establish within the Department of Commerce an office to promote and encourage to the greatest extent feasible the formation of [export trade](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-1) associations and [export trading companies](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-4). Such office shall provide information and advice to interested [persons](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) and shall provide a referral service to facilitate contact between producers of exportable goods and [services](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-2) and firms offering [export trade services](/usc/15/4002.md?p=a-3). The office shall establish a program to encourage and assist the operation of other export intermediaries, including existing and newly formed export management companies.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–290, title I, § 104, Oct. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 1235; Pub. L. 100–418, title II, § 2310, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1346.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–418 inserted requirement that the office establish a program to encourage and assist operation of other export intermediaries, including existing and newly formed export management companies.