President's budget proposal reflects manufacturing initiative.

The 2005 budget was released in February and includes money to carry out key promises in the manufacturing policy. Specifically, the budget reads as follows: "The International Trade Administration (ITA) assists in the creation of U.S. jobs by aiding the growth of export businesses. It also ensures international trade is fair for U.S. workers and businesses by enforcing U.S. trade laws and agreements, and by improving access to overseas markets by identifying and pressing for the removal of trade barriers." The budget provides ITA an $11 million increase for international trade activities.

Throughout 2003, Commerce Secretary Don Evans and other senior U.S. Dept. of Commerce (DOC) officials consulted with U.S. manufacturers via a series of nationwide roundtables to discuss the challenges and job losses facing the industry. In response, this budget reflects the following changes at DOC: creating a new assistant secretary to serve as a leader within the Administration on manufacturing; creating a new assistant secretary for trade promotion to boost exports, particularly to those markets that U.S. negotiators have recently opened, like China; and establishing an Unfair Trade Practices Team to track, detect and confront unfair competition before it injures an industry at home.

Although proclaiming support for the Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP), the Administration proposed $39 million for the program.

While this funding level marks a significant increase from last year's proposed $12.6 million, the amount represents a 63% cut from 2003. MEP has been funded at approximately $106 million for six years.