Strengthening the Army-Industry Dialogue on Defense Cooperation and Trade

摘要

The U.S. Army Materiel Command sponsored a conference in November 1988 to provideU.S. industry a platform to suggest ways in which the Army can modify policies and procedures to make U.S. companies more competitive participants in international markets. Conference working groups addressed industrial teaming, the defense industrial base, trade offsets, and technology security policy. These groups and a concluding panel of senior Army officials presented over 40 recommendations. The LMI report analyzes industry's views and presents proposals for their disposition. Among other things, LMI recommends that the U.S. Industry Committee for Army International Programs, created by the American Defense Preparedness Association (ADPA) as a result of the conference, should coordinate with the Defense Policy Advisory Committee on Trade (DPACT). For its part, DPACT should call on the ADPA committee to provide an Army perspective and should encourage the other Services to establish similar forums. In addition, the Army should improve its contacts with appropriate OSD and other agency staffs in resolving DoD and U.S. Government-wide defense cooperation and trade issues, because it is in the Government's interest that contacts with industry present a consensus position. The Army should also improve internal staff coordination between its foreign military sales and international cooperative program communities. LMI's analyses and recommendations are divided into chapters dealing with Government-industry cooperation, defense exports and offsets, technology security and licensing, and a diverse set of other industry issues.