GAO Report: Treasury Lacks Consistent Standards for MDB Project Oversight

The Treasury Department’s oversight of projects funded by multilateral development banks (MDBs) lacks consistent standards and transparency, increasing the risk of harm to U.S. producers, according to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released November 10, 2026. The findings reveal a significant gap in the application of a statute designed to protect American industries from unfair competition stemming from overseas projects backed by U.S. funds.

The core issue identified by the GAO is the absence of defined criteria for assessing key provisions within 22 U.S.C. § 262h – specifically, whether a commodity is in surplus on world markets and whether a project would cause ‘substantial injury’ to U.S. producers. While Treasury has criteria for surplus assessment, the report states officials ‘rarely apply it.’ Critically, no criteria exist to evaluate ‘substantial injury,’ leaving assessments vulnerable to subjective judgment and inconsistent application. This inconsistency potentially puts Treasury at risk of unintentionally supporting projects that negatively impact domestic industries.

Between January 2015 and August 2025, Treasury cast over 11,000 votes on MDB projects, supporting 83% of the 340 projects likely covered by the statute. However, the department does not publicly disclose which projects were evaluated under this statute, a lack of transparency that hinders scrutiny from affected industries. The GAO’s case study of the shrimp industry provides a concrete example of potential harm, linking MDB-supported aquaculture projects in Ecuador to increased imports and potentially lower U.S. shrimp prices. While the report did not find a similar link to challenges in the rice industry, it acknowledges both sectors face multiple, unrelated pressures.

The report underscores a broader concern regarding the accountability of U.S. funds allocated to international development. Without consistent and transparent application of statutory requirements, the potential for MDB projects to undermine U.S. economic interests remains a significant risk. The lack of publicly available information on project assessments further limits the ability of stakeholders to monitor and respond to potential trade impacts, and raises questions about the efficacy of existing oversight mechanisms.