The Commerce Department has unveiled a pilot initiative that seeks to address trade barriers that data localization policies and other digital regulations pose to U.S. companies.
Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said in an opinion piece published Friday the department’s International Trade Administration will spearhead the Digital Attache Program in partnership with the State Department and industry stakeholders.
Under the initiative, digital attaches will work to help U.S. small- and medium-sized enterprises leverage E-commerce channels to expand exports worldwide and overcome challenges presented by digital regulations in international markets.
Pritzker noted that the program also aims to promote commercial diplomacy, secure connections between trade promotion and trade policy initiatives and advance policies that seek to address technology concerns.
“The department looks forward to using the new attache program to partner with the private sector in advancing this mission for the evolving digital economy,†Pritzker added.