CIA POLICY SUPPORT ON US-LDC TRADE RELATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000800060019-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 30, 2001
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: October 1, 1974
• Content Type: MEMO

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CIA Policy Support on US-LDC Trade Relations
The CIA Office of Economic Research (OER) is
responsible for providing intelligence support on
US-LDC trade matters. Much of the research effort in
support of US policy interests is concentrated on
countries in the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin
America and on critical commodities such as petroleum,
grain, and nonferrous metals. LDC trade relations
with. other developed nations and with Communist
countries that directly or indirectly impact on the
United States also are covered.
Support materials range from statistical data and
background briefings to more detailed studies on
individual countries and commodities. This support is
provided in a variety of forms depending on consumer
requirements and the extent of policy interest.
Consumers include working-level and policy officials
throughout the economic community in Washington as
well as Congressmen, their staffs, and Congressional
committees.
Area and Commodity Coverage
OER's work on US-LDC trade related issues is an
integral part of its research effort on individual LDCs
and on the production and trade, worldwide, of critical
commodities. Because of competing priorities, coverage
of the less developed world varies substantially from
area-to-area and within areas. Research is concentrated
on countries of major interest to the United States
by virtue of their importance as a market for US exports
or capital, as a major source of raw materials, as a
swing factor in world demand for critical commodities,
or because of their importance as a political/military
force. LDC trade also is viewed in the context of
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relations with other developed countries and with the
Communist world, principally the USSR and China. Since
the mid-1950's, when Communist countries first began
to expand their economic relations with the LDCs, OER
has been the focal point for research on Communist
economic and military aid and trade activities.
Aggregate measures of national and international
economic activity are followed for most countries in
the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin America. More
detailed research is done on a few key economic
sectors -- usually agriculture, extractive industries,
and manufacturing -- and on development plans, budgets,
trade, and balance of payments. Complementing this
country analysis are functional units that are
responsible for following, on a worldwide basis,
energy, agriculture, and important raw materials.
Research coverage of most African countries and
many of the smaller countries in East Asia is less
extensive. Files and analytical capabilities, however,
are maintained at a level adequate to respond to ad hoc
questions on current issues.
Consumers
Policy support on US-LDC trade relations takes a
variety of forms, dictated in large part by consumer
needs and interests.
-- Oral and written background briefings are
provided to Cabinet members and other
senior officials as well as to members of
Congress, their staffs, and Congressional
committees.
-- Typescript memoranda are prepared in
response to specific requests from
working-level and policy officials in
State, Treasury, Agriculture, Commerce,
CIEP, STR, OMB, and the Export-Import
Bank.
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Contributions are made to interagency
studies chaired by the NSC Staff, State,
and CIEP.
Intelligence memoranda and reports are
published on trade issues of general
interest and are disseminated to a wide
range of consumers. These memoranda
and reports are prepared either in
response to specific requests or are
self-initiated in order to bring
important issues and findings to the
attention of policy officials.
Weekly publications are prepared on
international oil and foreign economic
developments. These publications cover
a wide range of current topics as well
as summaries of recent research findings
and are disseminated to senior officials
in State, Treasury, Commerce, STR, CIEP,
and the NSC Staff
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Act'ing DDT
The attached is an Unclassified
memorandum that you asked for in
connection with the GAO request for a
description of CIA policy support on
US-LDC trade relations.
STATI NTL
Deputy Director
Economic Research
1495R0QW00060019-8
(DATE)
FORM NO IO WHICHCMAY BEMUSE0101
I AUG 5
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Mr. Michael MEMORANDUM FOR: General Accounting Office
Room 7087, Main Commerce
Attached is the memorandum I promised
you describing CIA policy support on questions
relating to trade relations between the US and
LDC's.
STATINTL
Paul V. Walsh
Associate Deputy Director
for Intelligence
Attachment
FORM NO.
I 101 REPLACES FORM 10-101
Attachment: Memorandum entitled, CIA Policy Support on US-LDC
Trade Relations
Distribution:
Original Blue Note w/att - Addressee
1-D/OER
1 St/P/OER
- DDI (File: GAO)
C-T
1 - ADDI Chrono
STATINTL
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25 October 1974
J DATE T
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r
4 Date: 11 November 1974
TO Mr. Wa
FROM : Neil L
SUBJECT: GAO Request for Discussions w OER
Analysts
William Edmundson, International Division,
GAO (phone [phone]), called on 5 November
STATINTL (havin first checked with and obtained my name
from He asks whether his people
can have background talks with OER analysts in
connection with two projects:
a) A paper on the question of gold sales
to US individuals. Someone a State suggested
STATINTL i t would be useful to talk to to
get a basic appreciation of the international
gold market. GAO files have little on this.
The paper is for GAO internal use, and has not
been requested by anyone in Congress.
b) A paper on foreign investment in the
US. This project is at the request of several
Congressional consumers, but here again what
GAO wants from us is a general background
discussion on money markets. Focus is not
on petrodollars, but if someone were also
conversant with that subject it would be help-
ful.
Edmundson says in the past, when he has
had more elaborate requests, he has put them
in writing for your approval. He will be happy
to do so in this case, if you think necessary.
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DATE: 7 Nov 74
7
IEMARKS:
A Mr. Hunter, GAO liaison, called
Mr. Walsh to convey a GAO request. The call
was bucked to me.
GAO's call is prompted by a request
from Senator Percy to GAO for information on
CIA, such as total budget and personnel figures.
What Mr. Hunter wants is to send out
several people to chat about the Percy request--
4% terms of what information would be available--
before submitting a formal written request.
0 Mr. Hunter would like us to call
Mr. B, ecki, GAO Assistant Regional Manager,
with a response, preferably prior to COB today.
Mr. E#~lecki's number is 557-2151.
STATINTL
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