S. 1125 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 25, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBoosts international trade for creative businesses
This bill asks the Department of Commerce and its trade agencies to put more focus on helping small creative businesses and makers sell their products abroad. It directs various trade offices to promote exports from microenterprises and creative industries, develop markets specifically for Native Hawaiian arts and crafts, connect small businesses with international shipping services, and add someone from the creative industries to an advisory board that guides U.S. trade and tourism efforts.
How it affects you
If you run a small creative business, arts-focused company, or craft operation, this bill could help you reach international customers through better government support and trade promotion. Native Hawaiian tribes and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses focused on authentic arts and crafts may see new opportunities to develop markets abroad. Most other people won't experience direct changes from this bill.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 25, 2025)
Cultural Trade Promotion Act
This bill expands certain trade activities by the Department of Commerce and its related trade agencies to promote goods and services from microenterprises, creative industries and occupations (e.g., businesses focused on arts or culture), and Native Hawaiian businesses.
Specifically, the bill expands the activities that must be carried out by the U.S. Commercial Service to include the promotion of U.S. goods and services that are exported by microentrepreneurs.
Additionally, the bill expands the activities that must be carried out by Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee to include in its annual strategic plan (1) recommendations to better assist microenterprises, and (2) a consideration of how to promote exports of goods and services from creative industries and occupations.
The bill authorizes Commerce to provide assistance to eligible entities (e.g., Native Hawaiian tribes and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses) for the development of foreign markets for authentic Native Hawaiian arts and crafts.
The bill also requires the International Trade Administration, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the U.S. Postal Service to consult and collaborate to connect microenterprises and small businesses to fast and reliable international shipping services.
The bill directs the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to place special emphasis on the creative industries and occupations sectors when promoting U.S. private sector participation in development projects in developing and middle-income countries.
Finally, Commerce must appoint a representative of creative industries and occupations to serve as a permanent member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1125
A BILL
Cultural Trade Promotion Act
Sponsor: Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) · Introduced Mar 25, 2025 · Foreign Trade and International Finance · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 25, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.”
Sections
Sections · 6
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2DefinitionsNo change
- Sec. 3Promotion of exports from microenterprises and creative industries and occupationsNo change
- Sec. 4Collaboration to improve access to reliable international shipping servicesNo change
- Sec. 5Focus on creative industries and occupations by Trade and Development AgencyNo change
- Sec. 6Travel and tourism advisory boardNo change