U.S. Trade and Development Agency

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.

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

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

• Infrastructure project preparation
• Feasibility study grants
• Technical assistance services
• Reverse trade missions
• U.S. export development

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Lilac Solutions, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 23 March 2026California-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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Indonesia'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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2026USTDA 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 CouncilflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2026USTDA 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Mozambique-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 CorpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Philippines-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) LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025South 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 LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2025Zambia-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 StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSTDA 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)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium 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

Market position

Strengths1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ustda
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ustda
• Facebookfacebook.com/ustda
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/u.s.-trade-and-development-agency
• Instagraminstagram.com/ustda_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments17 records

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Frequently asked questions about U.S. Trade and Development Agency