General Info

The Department of Commerce fosters, promotes and develops foreign and domestic commerce of the United States. The department is responsible for strengthening the international economic position of the U.S. It also promotes and assists international trade. The Department of Commerce participates with other government agencies in the creation of national policies. The department is administered by the United States Secretary of Commerce. Its operating units include the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Economic Development Administration. The Department of Commerce s Economics and Statistic Administration includes the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of the Census. It additionally maintains the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and National Technical Information Service (NTIS).