U.S. Trade and Development Agency
USTDA is a U.S. federal agency that funds feasibility studies, technical assistance, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions to help overseas infrastructure projects attract financing and procure U.S. goods and services, serving foreign project sponsors and U.S. exporters across four priority sectors and four global regions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersArlington, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What U.S. Trade and Development Agency does
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is an independent U.S. federal agency, established in 1992 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that funds project preparation activities for overseas infrastructure projects to advance U.S. strategic priorities and create export opportunities for American firms. It does not develop proprietary technology; instead, it operates a grant-funded platform that de-risks infrastructure projects in emerging markets so they can attract the financing needed to procure U.S. goods and services. Its core service portfolio consists of six interconnected offerings: Feasibility Studies, Technical Assistance, Pilot Projects, Transaction Incentives, Reverse Trade Missions, and Industry Events, supported by five public-facing XML-based APIs (News, Events, Business Opportunities Overseas, Success Story, Trade Lead) that distribute real-time data on grants, events, and procurement opportunities.
USTDA's business model is structurally distinct from a commercial enterprise: it receives Congressionally appropriated funds and awards grants to overseas project sponsors—governments, state-owned enterprises, and private sector entities—who in turn contract U.S. firms for the underlying project preparation work. Pricing is not applicable; there is no commercial revenue stream. USTDA serves two primary customer segments: international infrastructure project sponsors in priority sectors (Critical Minerals, Digital Infrastructure, Energy, Transportation) across Africa and the Middle East, Europe and Eurasia, Indo-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, and U.S. companies seeking export opportunities, accessed via SAM.gov, reverse trade missions, and the agency's API/eNewsletter channels. Since 1992, USTDA reports that its activities have supported $127 billion in U.S. exports and approximately 380 communities with small business exports, at a ratio of roughly $226–$231 in exports per Congressionally appropriated dollar.
U.S. Trade and Development Agency firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- U.S. Trade and Development Agency
- Legal name
- U.S. Trade and Development Agency
- Website
- https://ustda.gov
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- USTDA is a U.S. federal agency that funds feasibility studies, technical assistance, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions to help overseas infrastructure projects attract financing and procure U.S. goods and services, serving foreign project sponsors and U.S. exporters across four priority sectors and four global regions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
U.S. Trade and Development Agency industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development Financing
- NAICS
- National Security and International Affairs (9281), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- International Affairs (9721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management (BPADAOAC), Intergovernmental Affairs & Federal Grants Administration (BPAIAAAC), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
Keywords
Where U.S. Trade and Development Agency is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
U.S. Trade and Development Agency business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding (Congressionally Appropriated): USTDA receives Congressionally appropriated funds to program grants that support infrastructure project preparation in emerging markets. The agency generates no direct revenue but facilitates U.S. exports by helping projects advance to implementation.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
U.S. Trade and Development Agency product offering
Product offeringCore offering
USTDA is a U.S. federal government agency that awards congressionally appropriated grants to overseas infrastructure project sponsors to fund project preparation activities — including feasibility studies, technical assistance, pilot projects, and transaction incentives — that de-risk projects and enable procurement of U.S. goods and services. It complements grant funding with reverse trade missions and industry events that connect U.S. companies with foreign project sponsors. The agency also publishes public XML APIs exposing procurement opportunities, events, news, and trade leads.
Product overview
USTDA is a U.S. government agency that operates as a unified service platform offering infrastructure project preparation and partnership facilitation. The core service portfolio consists of six interconnected offerings: Feasibility Studies (mobilizing capital and financing), Technical Assistance (engineering and science support), Pilot Projects (high-tech innovative technology demonstrations), Transaction Incentives (ROI-focused facilitation), Reverse Trade Missions (connecting overseas buyers with U.S. solutions), and Industry Events (conferences and business briefings). Additionally, USTDA provides five public-facing API products—the News API, Events API, Business Opportunities Overseas API, Success Story API, and Trade Lead API—that deliver XML-based real-time data feeds to external developers. The agency's digital infrastructure includes developer resources, a document center with templates and due diligence forms, and compliance programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Feasibility Studies
Quantifiable outcome
- $127 billion in total U.S. exports supported since 1992
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use U.S. Trade and Development Agency
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
U.S. Trade and Development Agency technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
U.S. Trade and Development Agency partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Lilac Solutions, Inc.coreCalifornia-based Lilac Solutions deployed its ion exchange direct lithium recovery technology at PT Geo Dipa Energi's geothermal facilities in Central Java, Indonesia. This pilot project establishes Indonesia's first facility to extract lithium from geothermal brine, creating a trusted lithium source for EV batteries while supporting Indonesia's energy needs.
- PT Geo Dipa Energi (GDE)coreIndonesia's state-owned geothermal developer partnering with USTDA and Lilac Solutions to demonstrate lithium extraction from geothermal brine at the Dieng geothermal field in Central Java. The project supports Indonesia's national downstreaming strategy for domestic battery industry development.
- Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)coreUSTDA and JBIC signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to continue their partnership fostering high-standards infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific. The renewed partnership facilitates joint project development, technical cooperation, and resource sharing. Priority sectors include energy and power (LNG and SMRs), transportation and logistics, resilient supply chains and critical minerals, ICT, healthcare, and SME support.
- U.S. National Energy Dominance CouncilflagshipUSTDA is principal sponsor of the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum (IPEM) in Tokyo, co-hosted with the National Energy Dominance Council and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, to advance energy partnerships and U.S. exports.
- Monte Muambe Mining Ltda (MMM)coreMozambique-based mining company receiving USTDA funding for a pre-feasibility study at its Monte Muambe rare earths project in Tete Province. The project will produce mixed rare earth carbonate containing neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium for U.S. commercial and defense interests.
- Meralco PowerGen CorpcorePhilippines-based power generation company receiving USTDA funding for technical assistance to evaluate U.S. small modular reactor designs. The funding supports development of an implementation roadmap for the Philippines' first SMR nuclear power plant.
- AFR-IX Telecom (Pty) LtdcoreSouth Africa-incorporated telecommunications infrastructure company receiving USTDA funding for a feasibility study for the Medusa Africa Submarine Cable System to enhance international connectivity in up to 22 countries along Africa's Atlantic coast.
- Metalex Africa Zambia LimitedcoreZambia-based mining company receiving USTDA funding for a feasibility study to expand copper and cobalt mining at its Kazozu mine in Northwestern Province. The study evaluates commercial viability and includes exploration, resource assessment, and environmental impact assessment.
- U.S. Department of StatecoreUSTDA announced programming commitments during the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial at the Department of State in February 2026, expanding efforts to secure America's critical mineral supply chains.
- Lobito Atlantic Railway Consortium (Mota-Engil, Trafigura, Vecturis)flagshipConsortium operating the rehabilitated Benguela Railway line under concession for the Lobito Corridor, transporting critical raw materials including copper and cobalt from DRC and Zambia to the Port of Lobito in Angola. Financial commitments of up to $6 billion secured with USTDA support.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
U.S. Trade and Development Agency competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
U.S. Trade and Development Agency social profiles
Digital presenceU.S. Trade and Development Agency financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
U.S. Trade and Development Agency leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
U.S. Trade and Development Agency funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
U.S. Trade and Development Agency M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments17 records
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Frequently asked questions about U.S. Trade and Development Agency
What does U.S. Trade and Development Agency do?
USTDA is a U.S. federal government agency that awards congressionally appropriated grants to overseas infrastructure project sponsors to fund project preparation activities — including feasibility studies, technical assistance, pilot projects, and transaction incentives — that de-risk projects and enable procurement of U.S. goods and services. It complements grant funding with reverse trade missions and industry events that connect U.S. companies with foreign project sponsors. The agency also publishes public XML APIs exposing procurement opportunities, events, news, and trade leads.
Is U.S. Trade and Development Agency a public or private company?
U.S. Trade and Development Agency is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was U.S. Trade and Development Agency founded?
U.S. Trade and Development Agency was founded in 1992. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is U.S. Trade and Development Agency based?
U.S. Trade and Development Agency is headquartered in Arlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does U.S. Trade and Development Agency make money?
One revenue line is on record: grant Funding (Congressionally Appropriated).
Does U.S. Trade and Development Agency have an API?
Yes. USTDA offers five public-facing APIs providing real-time data feeds: News API (press releases and media advisories), Events API (reverse trade missions, conferences, workshops), Business Opportunities Overseas API (contracting opportunities with grant recipients), Success Story API (success stories feed), and Trade Lead API (procurement opportunities in emerging markets). All APIs use XML feed format with public access level. Developer documentation is at www.ustda.gov/ustda-developer-application-programming-interfaces-apis.
What industry is U.S. Trade and Development Agency in?
U.S. Trade and Development Agency's product category is International Development Financing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADABAF, Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs, with a secondary code of BPADAOAC, Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management. Its NAICS code is 9281 and its SIC code is 9721.