Spotlight: EDA’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers Spur Growth and Global Competition for American Businesses

The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) program was established by Congress under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Through the TAAF program, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration funds a national network of 11 non-profit and university-affiliated Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (TAACs) to strengthen the competitiveness of American companies that have lost domestic sales and employment because of increased imports of similar goods and services.

In general, the program provides cost-sharing technical assistance to eligible import-impacted American firms. Firms receive technical assistance to create and implement targeted business recovery plans.

When a Wyoming manufacturer of laboratory equipment entered the TAAF program with Rocky Mountain Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (RMTAAC) in 2016, the company had experienced a 33 percent drop in sales due to Asian import competition.

With TAAF technical assistance, projects were undertaken to improve the firm’s production efficiency, enhance its enterprise resource planning system, and better promote the firm’s products and capabilities.

The company’s sales have since increased by 57 percent and its sales pipeline is now full, allowing the firm to plan production more efficiently and reduce unnecessary overtime.

U.S. firms that have experienced a decline in sales, a decline or impending decline in employment or worker hours may be eligible for assistance through the TAAF program. For more information, read our TAAF Fact Sheet. To pursue TAAF assistance, contact the TAAC that serves your state.