Page 13 - U.S. FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT

A Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Second Edition.

Law Enforcement Partners United States and Foreign Commercial Service
DOJ’s FCPA Unit regularly works with the (Commercial Service). The Commercial Service
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate has export and industry specialists located in over

potential FCPA violations. The FBI’s International 100 U.S. cities and 70 countries who are available
Corruption Unit has primary responsibility for to provide counseling and other assistance to U.S.
international corruption and fraud investigations businesses, particularly small and medium-sized
and coordinates the FBI’s national FCPA companies, regarding exporting their products
enforcement program. The FBI also has dedicated and services. The Commercial Service maintains a
FCPA squads of FBI special agents that are website with online resources to help companies

responsible for investigating many, and providing perform due diligence on markets and partners,
support for all, of the FBI’s FCPA investigations. In at: https://www.trade.gov/perform-due-diligence.
addition, Homeland Security Investigations, the For example, Country Commercial Guides provide
Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, market conditions, opportunities, regulations,

and the Postal Inspection Service regularly and business customs for more than 70 major
investigate potential FCPA violations. A number markets, prepared by ITA trade professionals at
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of other agencies are also involved in the fight U.S. embassies worldwide. Commercial Service
against international corruption, including the specialists can also help a U.S. company conduct
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, background checks when choosing business
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and partners or agents overseas. The International

the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Company Profile Program, for instance, can be part
Assets Control and Financial Crimes Enforcement of a U.S. company’s evaluation of potential overseas
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Network. business partners. U.S. companies may contact
the Commercial Service through its website, https://
Departments of Commerce and State www.trade.gov/let-our-experts-help-0 or directly at
Besides enforcement efforts by DOJ and its domestic and foreign offices.
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SEC, the U.S. government is also working to Additionally, the Department of Commerce’s
address corruption abroad and level the playing Office of the General Counsel maintains a website,

field for U.S. businesses through the efforts of https://ogc.commerce.gov/collection/office-chief-
the Departments of Commerce and State. Both counsel-international-commerce that contains
agencies advance anti-corruption and good anti-corruption resources and a list of international
governance initiatives globally and regularly assist conventions and initiatives. The Office of Trade
U.S. companies doing business overseas in several Agreements Negotiations and Compliance in the
important ways. Both agencies encourage U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade

businesses to seek the assistance of U.S embassies Administration also hosts a website with anti-
when they are confronted with bribe solicitations bribery resources, https://tcc.export.gov/Bribery/
or other corruption-related issues overseas. index.asp. This website contains a link to an
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The Department of Commerce offers a online form through which U.S. companies can
number of important resources for businesses, report allegations of foreign bribery by foreign

including the International Trade Administration’s competitors in international business transactions.

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