A review of literature, an update of a similar 1982 study, investigated attitudes and actions of United States high school and college students and within the business community concerning the need for language study and cross-cultural competence to promote competitiveness in international trade. Progress is seen as mixed: overall, achievements in increasing foreign language competence and cross-cultural awareness are inadequate. Americans' geographic literacy has improved little. Businesses rank foreign language skills among the least important hiring criteria. Workers see language skills as irrelevant in corporate reward systems and provide workers with little language or cross-cultural training. However, some encouraging changes in the educational infrastructure, and to some extent in the corporate environment, are found. International studies are receiving more attention at the high school and college levels, although they remain largely Eurocentric. Language training among businesspeople is increasing slowly. Specific programs at the levels of elementary, secondary, higher, and continuing education illustrate movement in a positive direction. Further development of these efforts and others is recommended. A 27-item bibliography is included. (MSE)