TRADE

U.S. Awards Trade Grants to California Industries: Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown awarded the $2.5 million in federal matching funds to seven trade organizations, including three in California, to help increase U.S. exports. The American Electronics Assn. in Santa Clara will receive $425,000 to help small- and medium-sized U.S. companies to penetrate the European and Japanese markets. The Institute of the Americas and the Environmental Technology Export Council, both based in La Jolla, will share $349,497 to help increase U.S. trade with Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in Mexico and Brazil.