ABOUT US
The mission of the Automotive Team is to facilitate and expand global business opportunities for U.S. automotive vehicle and parts manufacturers. The Auto Team achieves its objective through a variety of programs, including market access and other trade policy initiatives, domestic and international market analysis, and business counseling.

The Team's client companies range from some of the world's largest corporations, such as automakers Ford and General Motors, to large, medium and small automotive parts and accessory suppliers. The Team maintains close relationships with a wide variety of individual U.S. and foreign-based companies and their representative trade associations.

Team personnel actively participate in a number of priority policy initiatives. The Team coleads (with USTR) automotive trade negotiations under the auspicies of the U.S.-Japan Automotive Consultative Group established in October of 2001. The Team is the lead USG organization in the ongoing APEC Automotive Dialogue. The Team also provides principal staff support for the trade negotiations with Korea, and for automotive issues in the U.S.-China Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade (JCCT).

The Team also places a high priority on economic analysis. Team personnel periodically prepare analyses of the current status of, and future outlook for, the U.S. domestic auto industry. Over the past two years, a number of economic reports have been prepared on the corporate consolidations (Daimler/Chrysler, Nissan/Renault, GM/Fiat, etc.) taking place in the global auto industry. Significant resources are also devoted to compiling U.S. motor vehicle and parts international trade data.

NEWS
On September 3rd, the Office of Energy and Environmental Industries and the Office of Aerospace and Automotive Industries will host a free web-based seminar on 'Improving Your Bottom Line with Ethanol.' This seminar will provide U.S. petroleum retailers with information on 1) the current market for E-85, 2) ethanol conversion logistics, 3) government programs that advance E-85 ethanol distribution, and 4) the opportunities and challenges for U.S. retailers of E-85. Please see the click here for the flier for additional information, or contact Shannon.Fraser@mail.doc.gov, 202-482-3609 to register for the event.

On September 29-October 4, 2008, Secretary Gutierrez will lead a mission to the CAFTA/DR region. An informational flier (PDF) is available here. Also, visit http://www.export.gov/caftadrmission for additional information. The application deadline is this Thursday, July 31, 2008. However, the deadline may be extended by one week to Wednesday, August 6, 2008.