Office of Finance and Insurance Industries

MISSION

The Office of Finance and Insurance Industries (OFII) works to (1) create the conditions for the U.S. finance and insurance industries to innovate and compete globally, and (2) enhance access to financing for U.S. businesses in all sectors.

INDUSTRIES

FINANCIAL SERVICES TEAM

Our Financial Services Team focuses on expanding U.S. exports of financial services.

• Trade and Investment—We conduct competitive analyses to support the development of trade and investment policies which enhance U.S. industry competitiveness.
• Market Access—We lead interagency efforts to address market access challenges in key countries (e.g., China, Brazil, and India) through policy initiatives and bilateral and multilateral negotiations.
• Insurance and Pensions Products—We lead the U.S. delegation to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Insurance and Private Pensions Committee.
• Innovation—We work to help spur the U.S. Government’s innovation agenda.
• Blockchain—We lead the International Trade Administration’s efforts to monitor and evaluate the impact of digital ledger technology and digital identity solutions on U.S. industry competitiveness.
• Fintech—We executed a strategic partnership with Georgetown University to ensure better U.S. Government support for the growing number of U.S. fintech firms in foreign markets.

TRADE AND PROJECT FINANCE TEAM 

Our Trade and Project Finance Team focuses on facilitating new and inclusive segments of finance.

Official Finance—We recommend and coordinate Commerce Department positions on policy issues and proposed financing transactions involving the following U.S. Government and multilateral development sources:

• Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)
• U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
• World Bank
• African Development Bank
• Asian Development Bank
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• Inter-American Development Bnnk

Export Credits—We represent the Commerce Department on U.S. delegations to multilateral fora for developing and maintaining financial disciplines pursuant to which government may provide officially supported export credits through Export Credit Agencies:

• Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)—We work to stipulate the financial terms and conditions that OECD Members may offer when providing officially supported export credits.
•  International Working Group on Export Credits (IWG)—We work to negotiate new, rules-based guidelines for both OECD countries and all other major providers of officially supported export credits, including China and emerging countries.

 Trade Finance—We seek to ensure expanded access to finance for U.S. exporters and their foreign buyers:

• Trade Finance Guide—We publish a simple, concise, and easy-to-understand guide designed to help U.S. small and medium-sized exporters learn quickly how to get paid from their foreign customers in the most effective manner.
• Trade Finance Advisory Council—We manage the operation of a federal advisory committee established to advise the Secretary of Commerce in identifying effective ways to expand U.S. exporters’ access to trade finance.