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In 2024, U.S. companies received $2.13B in contracts from the UN
U.S. investment in the UN comes full circle.
The UN delivers American values and American mail, awards more contracts to U.S. businesses than any other country, promotes dozens of U.S. World Heritage sites and helps defend our borders from disease and illicit drugs.
SEE HOW THE UN INVESTS IN YOUR STATE
- States earning > $8.3 million (top 20 states)
- States earning < $8.3 million
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IN THE NEWS: HOW THE
UN SERVES AMERICAN INTERESTS
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[post_content] => On July 22, President Trump announced plans to withdraw the U.S. from UNESCO. It’s not the first time America has walked away from the world’s largest educational and cultural body — but it is a chance to remind ourselves just how much is at stake. From fighting antisemitism to preserving press freedom, UNESCO does far more than most Americans realize — and its work aligns with core American values.
With U.S. membership once again on the line, here are a few reasons UNESCO matters to the United States.
UNESCO’s cultural preservation goes beyond what meets the eye.
While the agency is best known for safeguarding iconic physical sites since 1972 (with a whopping 26 World Heritage sites across the U.S.), UNESCO also protects “Intangible Cultural Heritage” — the creative, culinary and spiritual traditions that define civilizations. Think tango in Argentina, yoga in India and the baguette in France.
And the U.S. is part of that story, too. From New Orleans jazz to Native American pottery traditions, American culture has both shaped and been protected by UNESCO’s global cultural framework.
Then there's UNESCO’s Memory of the World program that preserves critical historical documents — especially in places affected by war, disaster or authoritarian regimes. These archives safeguard human rights history, civil liberties and evidence of atrocities — tools that empower truth-tellers and researchers in the U.S. and around the world.
Did you know? A UNESCO World Heritage designation brings an average of $100 million in economic activity, thousands of jobs and $2 million in hotel tax revenue — a serious boost for U.S. sites like the Grand Canyon and Independence Hall.
Journalists count on UNESCO to have their backs.
UNESCO tracks threats to journalists and holds governments accountable. Its Observatory of Killed Journalists monitors violence against reporters worldwide, pushing for justice in unresolved cases. These data inform UNESCO’s World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Report, a key tool for U.S. advocates, lawmakers and journalists working to protect press freedom at home and abroad.
UNESCO educates — globally and locally.
UNESCO trains teachers, supports literacy, rebuilds schools after conflict and expands digital access to learning. But its work also supports American interests, particularly in emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO’s global taskforce helped U.S. officials and educators with best practices for distance learning, school reopening and mental health recovery for students.
UNESCO is a global data hub.
From tracking girls’ education rates to publishing groundbreaking research on digital literacy, UNESCO serves as the UN’s knowledge engine. Its publications and the UNESCO Courier provide open-source information that underpins policymaking — including in Washington.
Did you know? UNESCO curates the largest artistic heritage collection in the UN system, including works by Picasso and artifacts spanning 6,000 years — a testament to cultural diplomacy that includes American artists and benefactors.
UNESCO leads the UN’s earth sciences research.
Through its International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme, UNESCO powers global research on climate, biodiversity and resilience — topics with direct implications for American coastlines, agriculture and disaster preparedness. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission also helps track ocean health and marine threats. That matters for America’s fisheries, naval operations and coastal communities.
UNESCO is helping inform the future of Artificial Intelligence.
UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendations on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence set a global standard for responsible AI development. Based on human rights and environmental sustainability, it's influenced legislative efforts in dozens of countries — and offers a framework that aligns closely with emerging U.S. policy priorities.
UNESCO powers creativity in American cities.
The Creative Cities Network links 300 cities worldwide that place culture at the heart of their growth. U.S. cities like Austin, Santa Fe and Kansas City are part of the network — gaining global recognition, sharing best practices and strengthening creative economies.
UNESCO stood with the U.S. during the Civil Rights era.
Little know fact: UNESCO was a key partner in America’s struggle for racial justice. From publishing the pioneering 1950 Statement on Race to backing school desegregation efforts, the agency helped reinforce U.S. commitments to equality at a pivotal moment in our history.
Bottom Line
UNESCO is as much a global force as it is an American partner.
That's why walking away doesn’t just undermine our global leadership — it weakens the very tools that help us defend free speech, advance education, protect heritage and shape the future.
[post_title] => UNESCO Is Good for World Culture — and U.S. Interests
[post_excerpt] => UNESCO protects press freedom, preserves cultural heritage and advances education worldwide — work that directly benefits American communities and values.
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[post_content] => When Americans order something from abroad, few stop to think about the machinery that gets the parcel to their doorstep. Behind the scenes sits the UN’s Universal Postal Union (UPU), a United Nations agency created in 1874 that quietly links 192 countries into a single global postal territory. Its job is to set the rules that allow one country’s postal service to hand off a package seamlessly to another.
Most of the time, the UPU does this work in obscurity. But this summer, as sweeping U.S. tariff changes strained global shipping, the agency found itself making headlines – and working hard to keep commerce flowing.
How a Quiet Rule Change Shook Global Commerce
The shift began in April, when the Trump Administration invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose new tariffs. While overwhelming attention focused on high-level trade battles, the most consequential change for everyday American consumers came on August 29, when the Administration ended the long-standing “de minimis” exemption that allowed goods under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.
The exemption had been the backbone of low-cost e-commerce. Its suspension meant that every parcel, no matter how small, now had to clear customs and face duties that could reach as high as $200. Officials defended the move as a way to close loopholes exploited by counterfeiters and drug traffickers. For consumers, however, it meant extended delays and higher costs. And for small businesses that rely on affordable shipping to reach customers abroad, the disruption was even sharper.
According to data collected by the UPU, international mail traffic to the U.S. fell by 81 percent in a single week, with at least 88 postal operators suspended some or all services to the U.S. altogether as they seek to reconfigure their systems.
The UN’s Universal Postal Union Steps In
The UN’s Universal Postal Union stepped into this breach. With its 150-year history of technical standard-setting, the agency has become the indispensable broker between U.S. authorities and the rest of the world’s postal systems. In recent weeks, it’s worked to clarify Washington’s new rules, relay them across its global network and accelerate development of tools to make the changes workable in practice.
With its 150-year history of technical standard-setting, the UPU has become the indispensable broker between U.S. authorities and the rest of the world’s postal systems.
Just this week, for example, the UPU began rolling out a “landed-cost calculator” that global postal operators can integrate into their systems to let post offices calculate and collect the correct duties from customers at the point of origin, ensuring that shipments clear customs smoothly once they reach U.S. soil, reducing time and complications upon entry.
The UPU is also fast-tracking upgrades to its existing Customs Declaration System used by 176 national postal operators. This system will allow posts not only to calculate duties but also provide payments to U.S.-approved carriers and transmit all required data in line with Customs and Border Protection standards. And to smooth the adoption, the agency is supporting postal operators in adapting their internal procedures and training staff on new U.S. requirements.
And the agency is serving as a forum for diplomacy. On August 25, the UPU sent a letter to Secretary of State Rubio, offering technical consultations, transitional arrangements and pilot projects to smooth the rollout of the new rules among Member States. Days later, it convened an information session for U.S. officials to field questions from more than 100 countries, underscoring the UPU’s role as the global table where postal policy is negotiated and translated into practice.
In a statement, UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki described the work as central to the agency’s mission: “The UPU has in its mission the responsibility to guarantee the free circulation of postal items over a single postal territory. We’re working to uphold that responsibility with the rapid development of a new technical solution that will help get mail moving to the United States again.”
The UPU is working to uphold [our] responsibility with the rapid development of a new technical solution that will help get mail moving to the United States again.”
Masahiko Metoki, UPU Director General
Domestic Policy Meets Global Delivery
Inbound traffic to the United States accounts for 15 percent of global postal flows, nearly half of it from Europe and a third from Asia. The vast majority is made up of small parcels, the very products most affected by the end of the de minimis exemption. Without the UPU’s rapid interventions, much of that traffic would remain stuck in warehouses and airports, stranding businesses and consumers alike.
For the U.S., the moment is a reminder of how deeply domestic trade decisions ripple across international systems – and how much Washington depends on global institutions to carry them out. The UPU has no say in U.S. tariff policy, but it’s the agency making those policies function in the real world. By building technical solutions, coordinating with postal operators and engaging in direct dialogue with Washington, the UPU is an essential partner.
In a moment when politics and policy can stall the mail, the UN’s Universal Postal Union — the world’s second-oldest international organization – remains what it has always been: the quiet bridge that keeps commerce moving.
Did you know? In 2023, the U.S. Postal Service delivered about half of the world's 227 billion mail pieces, far surpassing the volumes managed by any other carrier – and made possible through its partnership with the UN’s Universal Postal Union.
[post_title] => UN's Postal Agency is Working with U.S. and Global Carriers to Keep Mail Moving
[post_excerpt] => When U.S. tariffs shook global mail, the UN’s Postal Union kept commerce moving.
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[post_content] => Although we often talk about the important role the U.S. has within the United Nations, there are also countless ways the UN plays an essential role in the lives of regular Americans. As some on Capitol Hill seek to end America’s relationship with the organization we helped establish four decades ago, we wanted to share this often overlooked story of the value of the UN – one of American jobs, American economy and American security. Because even though the entire sum of U.S. contributions to the UN accounts for less than 1% of the federal budget, that small figure packs a big punch.
Here are a few ways U.S. engagement with the UN is making a material difference in our daily lives.
UN Contracts to Americans Create Jobs and Economic Development
In 2022, the U.S. was the largest supplier of goods and services for the UN, with total contracts exceeding a record $2.36 billion. Not only is this an increase from the previous year, but it’s also less than the U.S. pays in assessed dues for the UN’s regular and peacekeeping budgets – combined. From the more than $500 million in contracts pouring into New York to Maine’s $82 million in procurement, these investments equate to hundreds of jobs and a real economic boost.
The UN System Employs Thousands of Americans
With the highest percentage of staff across the organization, Americans occupy nearly 6,000 positions at the UN – a total that doesn’t include the thousands more who serve as contractors in adjacent agencies that work alongside the UN system. American diplomats also hold more leadership roles in key UN agencies than any other country, including UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration, the World Food Programme and the International Telecommunication Union.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites Boost Tourism and Economies
The U.S. established Yellowstone as a national park in 1872, kicking off a global movement to protect such areas as national treasures. A century later, Americans proposed – and was the first to ratify – the World Heritage Convention. This convention is embodied in UNESCO’s popular World Heritage Program, which designates sites of historical and cultural significance, including intangible cultural practices like forms of dance, art, cooking techniques, rites and rituals and so much more. The U.S. alone boasts 25 such prized destinations. And the value of a World Heritage Designation? On average, sites with the coveted plaque see a boost of at least $100 million each year in increased tourism and jobs that support local businesses, crafts, hospitality and the general tax base.
WHO Collaborating Centers Strengthen U.S. Based Health Research
Currently, 70 research organizations across 18 states and the nation’s capital are designated by the World Health Organization as Collaborating Centers. This status provides institutions with enhanced visibility around their primary research, access to broader funding opportunities that support that research, and greater recognition of the thousands of researchers employed by the centers. In return for the benefits of designation, Collaborating Centers serve as the backbone of WHO’s network of advisors that pursue research and development at the national level on behalf of the global community, thus informing the policies of the WHO and UN Member States.
The UPU Makes Sure Your Mail is Delivered
The Universal Postal Union is the primary forum for cooperation throughout the world's postal services, setting international standards to make sure your mail is delivered intact and on time. The body also includes a standing committee with the International Air Transport Association – co-chaired by our very own American Airlines! – dedicated exclusively to airmail, coordinating the many logistical challenges of speedy, high quality delivery.
ICAO Coordinates Air Travel
Speaking of the skies, the International Civil Aviation Organization, which was founded in the Windy City through what's become known as the "Chicago Convention," ensures you're able to safely share the skies with the 4.5 billion passengers who fly each year. They even set many of the standards used by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration like security regulations, pilot licensing, emissions recommendations and much more. Oh, and have you ever wondered how those four-digit airport codes are decided? Yep, ICAO.
Americans rely on the UN – and the UN is counting on us. Tell your Member of Congress that you support continued engagement on the world's biggest stage.
[post_title] => Did You Know? Surprising Ways the UN Serves Americans
[post_excerpt] => The UN creates U.S. jobs, boosts local economies, protects heritage, advances health research and keeps mail and air travel running safely.
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UNESCO protects press freedom, preserves cultural heritage and advances education worldwide — work that directly benefits American communities and values.
When U.S. tariffs shook global mail, the UN’s Postal Union kept commerce moving.
The UN creates U.S. jobs, boosts local economies, protects heritage, advances health research and keeps mail and air travel running safely.
EXPLORE THE BENEFITS OF A
STRONG U.S.-UN PARTNERSHIP
The UN and its agencies support many aspects of daily life in America. Even the humble traffic light traces back to UN cooperation. From addressing global conflicts and investing in American farmers to delivering the mail, the UN helps the U.S. work.
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In 2024 alone, U.S. companies secured $2.13 billion in UN contracts, more than any other country. These contracts support jobs in nearly every state — from aviation in the Pacific Northwest to pharmaceuticals in New Jersey. In fact, every U.S. dollar contributed in dues to the UN returns almost dollar-for-dollar in procurement for American businesses.
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As the world’s biggest diplomatic arena, the UN is the space where the U.S. engages with global competitors to defend our allies and interests against regimes like China and Russia. When conflicts arise, UN Peacekeeping works to contain crises and protect civilians — all at just one-eighth the cost of deploying comparable U.S. missions. The UN also serves as the most effective platform for the U.S. to enforce sanctions against terrorist groups and hostile states.
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The UN helps disrupt terrorist financing, arms trafficking and cybercrime — efforts that keep threats away from U.S. soil. U.S. law enforcement agencies rely on UN conventions and coordination through the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to combat fentanyl trafficking, human smuggling and organized crime.
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With Eleanor Roosevelt at the helm of drafting the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it’s no surprise that UN values mirror American values — like democracy, human rights and the rule of law. These values show up in the critical work of U.S.-funded UN agencies that deliver lifesaving services, food and nutrition, healthcare, education and humanitarian support to populations worldwide.
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American investment in UN health programs has helped generate some of the most groundbreaking global health work in history, including efforts to fight malaria, HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis and polio. Working with more than 70 Collaborating Centers across the U.S. and hundreds of others worldwide, the World Health Organization coordinates response to outbreaks to keep disease from spreading.
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Through UNESCO, 26 U.S. sites — from the Statue of Liberty and Independence Hall to Yellowstone and Mesa Verde — are recognized as World Heritage Sites. These designations bring global expertise and visibility that boost tourism, protect history and strengthen local economies, ensuring future generations can experience America’s cultural and natural legacy.
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UN bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO) set shipping safety and emissions standards that protect U.S. coastlines and maritime industries. Arctic stations in Alaska and coastal monitoring along American shores contributes to UN climate data, which informs global and U.S. models used by NOAA and NASA.
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The Universal Postal Union (UPU) — a UN agency — ensures Americans can reliably send and receive international mail. Global aviation standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) keep flights in and out of U.S. airports safe. Even things like the standardized traffic light system originated in UN negotiations, making daily life safer and more efficient.
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