Government

What does the do?

Updates published annually

The International Trade Administration (ITA) is a subdivision of the US Department of Commerce responsible for promoting international trade, strengthening the competitiveness of US industry, and ensuring fair trade through rigorous enforcement of trade laws and agreements. The ITA provides data, tools, and resources to help American businesses navigate the complexities of international markets, advocates for US commercial interests abroad, and works to remove trade barriers. It was established in 1980.

In FY 2024,

$625M

was spent by the International Trade Administration
In FY 2024,

4.2%

of Dept. of Commerce spending was by the International Trade Administration

How much does the International Trade Administration spend?

The International Trade Administration spent a net total of $625 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 4.2% of the $14.8 billion spent by the Department of Commerce, which itself was 0.2% of all federal spending. The ITA ranked 6th among DOC subdivisions in net spending.
Net spending is the difference between agency spending and any financial accounts generating funds from the agency’s own activities, like fees or rent. When these funds offset all spending, net spending appears negative. Some agencies tend to operate with positive net spending while others will register negative net spending sometimes or often.

The International Trade Administration ranked 6th among Department of Commerce divisions in net spending in 2024.

DOC net spending by division, FY 2024

Like the overall federal budget, agency spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the International Trade Administration’s federal spending has increased from $365.2 million in 1980 to $625 million in 2024.

The International Trade Administration’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by ITA, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, the International Trade Administration's spending has increased 71.1%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.
As a percentage of the overall federal budget, a positive number means agency net spending made up some positive share of total federal spending; a negative number means that net generated funds offset a portion of total spending. ITA spending grew less than overall federal spending since 1980, which means that its share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, ITA accounted for 0.0092% of overall federal spending.

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Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The International Trade Administration’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Net spending by ITA as a share of federal spending, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.
In FY 2024, all of the International Trade Administration's spending was direct.
The chart below outlines all net ITA spending.

How did the International Trade Administration spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to ITA, FY 2024

How many people work for the International Trade Administration?

Some 1,498 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the International Trade Administration as of September 2024. This is 4.2% fewer people than the division staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the International Trade Administration has decreased 4.2% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for ITA, September 2010–2024

The International Trade Administration accounts for 0.065% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. The division constituted a smaller share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 compared to 2010 (0.074%).
While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the International Trade Administration's share of the workforce (0.065%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.0092%).

Who leads the International Trade Administration?

The ITA is led by the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. This individual is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The Under Secretary reports to the Secretary of Commerce and is responsible for overseeing the administration's efforts to improve the global business environment and help U.S. organizations compete at home and abroad. There is no fixed term for this position.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • Office of Personnel Management

    FedScope

  • Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury

    Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement

    Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury logo