COMMERCE PROJECT ON EAST-WEST TRADE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61S00527A000100130015-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 15, 1998
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: June 30, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

THRU
Sanitized-Approved .CIA-RDP61S00527A0Q40100130015-7
rative Staff
Division
es Division
on East-net Trade
30 June 1953
1. Problem:
To provide fUn40 for the continued jointfinanc1ng by the Miami
Security Agency (and/or it5 ucceesor agency) and CIA of the Department of
Commerce's Project, *Trade Between the Free World and the Soviet Bloc ?'
2. Beekgrounds
The project plan is div' (a) Comp tion of
trade statistics from the naticrnal stati3tjcB available from individual
25X1A1 acountries
statietical information reported by 000011 (at a T.O.
(at a T.O.III.MIMMt; (b) Ttibulation and a a of 25X1A1a
(c) Analysis of trade information developed in (a), plus basic and current
25X1A1 of trade agreements And export control s stems (at a T.O. cost of
Commerce absorbed an additional Cost pins about 25X1A1a
non-recurring costs.
The statistics compiled for part (a) serve ac ane of the indispensable
bench.oarks for the Trade and Finance Branch, Services Division, in providing
strategic intelligence on Soviet Bloc trade and finance. The Department of
Commerce possesses peculisr advantagee in undertaking this part of the pro-
ject. It is the established focal point for official trade statistics for
the entire government and haa a well-developed statistical library. It has
long experience in blending diverse trade data iron a variety of foreign
language sources into uniforn statistical studies. But even with these
advantages it has taken the Department of Commerce well over a year to re-
croft, train and organize its present project staff into a smooth function-
ing unit.
In the event the Department of Commerce is unable to continue this
projects CIA would need to perform the same service iteelf. In view of the
Commerce experience, CIA would probably be unable to satisfactorily develop
a similar service before sometime in the fiscal year 1955.
Th e statistical tabulations for part (b) are essential for the in i-
gen** support furnished by the Economic Defense Diviaion? to the Secretary of
Commerce and the Director for 1lUtual Security in their administration of the
llport Control Act and the Battle Act.
The analysis of trade information, trade agreements, and export control
systems has not materialized in a form usable for CIA to date.
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP61S00527A000100130015-7
Sanitized - Approved ForSEGRE.Te : CIA-RDP61500527A000100130015-7
3. Ro.nda34oi
:
25X1A1a
It is recommended that the allocation of for this project be
continued for FT 1954. This service obtained from. Commerce is indispensable
to both DA and OF and could not be vtaplicated in CIA daring Fr 1954.
Further, the T.O. cost alone on parts (a) and b of the project exceeds
the recommended allocation a funds by 25X1A1 a
4. Coordination of Recommcndatimv
This reconmendation has the joint approval of Dit and OF, the tco
ORk components chiefly interested in the project.
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25X1A9a
25X1A9a
Sanitized - Approved For Rele gaEl:A-RDP61500527A000100130015-7