About

The Israeli Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, is responsible for managing and directing the international trade policy of the State of Israel. The main fields of activity include activities for the promotion of trade and export, initiating and maintaining trade agreements for the improvement of Israel’s trade conditions, attracting and encouraging foreign investments and creating strategic cooperation with foreign companies. Together with the activity in Israel, the Administration operates a network of economic representatives who constitute the operational arm of the Ministry in markets around the world.

Objectives:

• Assisting the Israeli industry in deepening the activity in existing markets, and penetrating new markets.
• Accompanying and supporting the individual exporter in the marketing activity abroad.
• Initiating and applying international trade agreements and maintaining existing agreements. Raising investments and strategic cooperation.
• Improving the image of the Israeli industry and economy. Preventing unfair competition – dumping.

About the Washington, DC Commercial Mission

The Commercial Mission of the Embassy of Israel aims to promote and facilitate trade and investment between Israel and the United States, and to enhance bilateral commercial relations. For this purpose, it works closely with the U.S. federal governmental and public bodies such as the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Commerce.

The Commercial Mission of the Embassy of Israel has specific responsibility for promoting bilateral trade with the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland. The Commercial Missions in New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago are responsible for the remaining forty seven states.

In addition, it supports the efforts of Israeli companies to be awarded contracts financed by the World Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB).

About United States-Israel Economic and Trade Relations

On April 22, 1985, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the Israeli Minister of Industry and Trade signed the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Agreement entered into force in September 1985 after it was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives by a 422-0 vote and by a voice vote in the U.S. Senate. The FTA was the U.S.’s first bilateral free trade agreement and Israel’s second (following Israel’s free trade agreement with the European Community, which was signed in 1975). Read more here.

About the Commercial Attaché

Anat Katz serves as Commercial Attaché heading the Commercial Mission at the Embassy of Israel in Washington.

Before assuming this position, Anat was the Director for North and Latin America at the Foreign Trade Administration of the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. As the Director for the Americas, Anat was overseeing the entire trade facilitation activity held by the Israeli commercial missions in North and Latin America and worked closely with partners in Israel such as Israel’s Investment Promotion Center, the Israeli Export Institute, HTIA and others.

Anat also served as a Board member of Matimop, the executive agency of the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor of Israel. Matimop is the official National Agency for industrial R&D cooperation in Israel.

Prior to that, Anat served for 5 years as the Israeli Commercial Attaché to Singapore, where she facilitated trade and investments in Singapore and the neighboring markets.

Anat holds a Bachelor Degree in Laws as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), both from the Hebrew University (Honors Program).

Anat is a member of the Israeli Bar, and is a certified lawyer in Israel.

Anat is married to Tal, and has two young boys.