Business America

Chapter 29

 

From this chapter:

Business America: The Magazine of International Trade (BA), first published by the State Department under another name in October 1880, is the oldest U.S. government magazine. After more than a hundred years of continuous publication, Business America still has the same mission: to help American companies sell their products overseas. That mission has been turned over to the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA). The ITA has over 50 commercial districts around the country and in Puerto Rico. Many, but not all, of the offices have trade specialists who are available for counseling: the offices, addresses and telephone numbers plus trade specialist positions are listed at the end of the journal.

BA is a brief publication of approximately 35 pages that focuses on special trade topics (e.g., "Reinvented Government Programs: Paving the Way for Exporters Into the 21st Century") that are designed to inform, instruct, and motivate American businesspersons. The format is simple, but jazzed up considerably (for the government that means two-color separation and big fonts) in the last few years. The magazine leads with "Trade Watch," which gives brief sketches on the most recent trade activities involving the United States (e.g., "U.S. Economy"; "U.S. International Transactions"; "World Bank Sets Up Infrastructure Project Database"; etc.). Examples of some articles-written by ITA trade specialists-are:




Business America