Why is the United States not a member of the BIE?

The convention creating the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE from the title in French) was created in 1928.

What is the role of the BIE?
The role of the BIE is to regulate the frequency of exhibitions under its jurisdiction, to ensure their quality and to guarantee that they are organised in compliance with international law. These exhibitions include all international exhibitions of a duration superior to three weeks (excluding fine arts exhibitions) and of non-commercial nature, organised by a state and for which the invitations are sent to other states by the diplomatic channel. Fairs are thus not included, and commercial activities are seriously regulated in the Expos organised under the auspices of the BIE.

There are 157 nations that have ratified the convention and are now member states of the BIE. The United States, however, is not among them. After several decades of participation, the United States' membership lapsed in 2002 after two consecutive years of non-allocation of funds by the American congress. It is unclear why the congress chose not to fund the United States' membership in the BIE, particularly since it is only $25,000 per year.

Of course, the reason most countries participate is that membership facilitates holding a world expo in the country, an event that not only draws tourists but contributes to exports and industry. So too, membership makes it possible for our diplomats to work to see than U.S. interests are promoted in all world expos.

If you agree that the United States should rejoin, I suggest that you contact your representatives in the congress and you senators and send a short message. You can do so by visiting the following sites:


http://www.house.gov/writerep/

and

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm