INTERNATIONAL TRADE COOPERATION BY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.

SEC. 1209. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COOPERATION BY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS. Section 21(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)) is amended— (1) by striking “(2) The Small Business Development Centers” and inserting the following: “(2) Cooperation to provide international trade services. “(A) Information and services. The small business development centers” ; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (A), as so designated, by inserting “(including State trade agencies),” after “local agencies”; and (B) by adding at the end the following: “(B) Cooperation with state trade agencies and export assistance centers. A small business development center that counsels a small business concern on issues relating to international trade shall— “(i) consult with State trade agencies and Export Assistance Centers to provide appropriate services to the small business concern; and “(ii) as necessary, refer the small business concern to a State trade agency or an Export Assistance Center for further counseling or assistance. “(C) Definition. In this paragraph, the term ‘Export Assistance Center’ has the same meaning as in section 22.” .