Top News
USPTO on Target to Reach Annual Hiring Goal for Patent Examiners
Alexandria, Va. (Jan. 14)—The Commerce Department’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) graduated its largest class of examiners with 140 new examiners, keeping the agency on track to achieving its aggressive goal of hiring 1,200 new examiners per year. The Honorable John Conyers, Jr., Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, (pictured left) was the keynote speaker. (More)
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Secretary Gutierrez Says Exports Important to U.S. Growth, Opening Markets Overseas is Goal
Washington (Jan. 11)—U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez issued a statement on the release of the November 2007 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Department’s U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Today’s report shows that U.S. exports increased by 12.3 percent to $1.48 trillion year-to-date (through November) over 2006. Imports increased 5.6 percent to $2.13 trillion and the trade deficit narrowed 6.9 percent during the same time period. (More) (Fact Sheet)
Gutierrez: Korea FTA “Too Important to be Allowed to Fail”
Washington (Jan. 10)—At keynote remarks to the Korea Economic Institute on the occasion of Korean-American Day, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez highlighted the contributions of Korean-Americans, and focused on the need to pass the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement to strengthen ties between our two countries and level the playing field for American business, workers, farmers and ranchers. While Gutierrez said he believed the “U.S.-Korea FTA is simply too important to be allowed to fail,” he also noted that to advance the FTA, “Korea needs to fully reopen its market to U.S. beef.” (Remarks)
NIST Nobel Laureate Explains “Science of Cold” to 800 Middle School Students
Rockville, Md. (Jan. 9)—Nobel Laureate William D. Phillips, a physicist at the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), spoke about the science of cold temperatures to a filled auditorium of approximately 800 students at Parkland Magnet Middle School for Aerospace Technology in Rockville, Maryland. He showed how the properties of everyday materials from balloons to carnations change drastically at cold temperatures. (More)
U.S. Department of Commerce Announces Second Annual Americas Competitiveness Forum
Washington (Jan. 9)—U. S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced the Department will convene the second annual Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) on Aug. 17-19, 2008, in Atlanta. The forum will provide an opportunity for governments, the business community, and representatives from academia and non-governmental organizations to discuss actions that can be taken to improve competitiveness and economic prosperity in the Americas. (More)
Census Bureau Releases Poverty Estimates for States, Counties and School Districts
Washington (Jan. 9)—The U.S. Census Bureau released 2005 poverty estimates for each of the nation’s almost 14,000 Title I-eligible school districts. The estimates are produced in order for the Department of Education to implement provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The school district data, part of the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, are contained in data tables showing the number of poor children ages 5 to 17 in families. (More)
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Measurement Savings Add Up to Big Savings for Semiconductors
Gaithersburg, Md. (Jan. 8)—A new report from the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows that investment in measurement science will continue to have a dramatic effect on innovation, productivity, growth, and competitiveness among high-technology sectors. The report estimates that the $12 billion spent on advancing measurement capabilities during the decade beginning in 1996 will have saved that sector more than $51 billion in costs by 2011—a net benefit of approximately $39 billion. (More)
Secretary Gutierrez Addresses ASEAN Ambassadors
Washington (Jan. 8)—By invitation of Ambassador Le Cong Phung, who is the current chair of the ASEAN Washington Committee, Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez addressed the ASEAN ambassadors during their lunch meeting today. The Secretary updated the ambassadors on the U.S. economy, and discussed economic relations in the Asia-Pacific regions including ASEAN countries. ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Secretary is pictured with the ambassadors at the Vietnam Ambassador’s residence.
Commerce’s NTIA Certifies More than 250 Retailers and 19 Converter Box Models for TV Converter Box Coupon Program
Las Vegas (Jan. 7)—The U. S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today at the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow that more than 250 retailers, representing more than 15,000 outlets nationwide, are certified to participate in a program to aid in the transition to digital television. (More)
Secretary Gutierrez Meets with New Ambassador from Vietnam
Washington (Jan. 7)—Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez met with the new Ambassador from Hanoi, Le Cong Phung, at the Commerce Department to discuss the U.S.-Vietnam economic and commercial relationship following the Secretary's business development mission to Vietnam last November. Market access issues related to intellectual property rights protection and trading and distribution rights, advocacy requests and other issues were included on the meeting agenda to be discussed at this courtesy call.