State and Local Governments in the International Arena

Abstract

U.S. state and local governments have become active participants in the global economy as they promote trade, investment, tourism, and technical and cultural exchanges. All 50 states sponsor international programs, and 41 states maintain over 110 offices in 24 countries. More than 1000 cities are also engaged in long-term international activities. Altogether, states and localities are spending hundreds of millions of dollars annually on international projects. The proliferation of subnational government ties beyond America's borders is complicating intergovernmental relations and posing questions of constitutionality, jurisdiction, and propriety. Nonetheless, such grass-roots efforts are vital if the United States is to maintain its economic competitiveness in a complex global arena. Regularized institutional linkages should be established between the federal, state, and local governments, and there should be extensive inter-governmental cooperation in formulating U.S. economic and foreign policy strategies for the 1990s and beyond.