Miami-Dade leaders are demanding sharper scrutiny of taxpayer-funded trade missions -- and a proposed trip to Germany next spring appears to be on hold -- following revelations that commissioners have traveled the globe to drum up commerce with few, if any, tangible results.

Since 2007, the county's International Trade Consortium has spent more than $217,000 on trips to Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, nearly always with a politician in tow. But the agency's director, J.A. ``Tony'' Ojeda Jr., said he can't point to a single contract signed as a result of the effort, The Miami Herald reported Tuesday.

The ITC stopped keeping such records after a 2005 Herald report found them grossly exaggerating the trips' economic benefit.

``If it's all fiction, then instead of eliminating reporting altogether, you start writing nonfiction,'' said Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, who said he'll press the agency to reinstitute measurable record-keeping.

``Right now, there is no evidence that says the ITC should be funded because there is no evidence they are beneficial in any way.''

The trips, led by county commissioners, often include more county staff members than representatives of the Miami-Dade businesses they are designed to promote, records show.

Mayor Carlos Alvarez said the county agency must show ``more bang for the buck.'' He noted that real control over the ITC rests with the commission, which approves the agency's budget, and ITC board chairwoman Natacha Seijas.

Alvarez insisted he has little control over the ITC -- even though County Manager George Burgess, who serves at his pleasure, approves expenses for employees who have stayed in luxury hotels from Istanbul to Cape Town.

``The fact that the manager approves travel is a ministerial procedure,'' said Alvarez, who campaigned for the title of ``strong mayor'' so he could exert more control over county agencies.

Burgess refused to pay for Ojeda to join Seijas at a ``citizen diplomacy'' conference in Belfast in late July.

But he approved payment for Ojeda and two other county employees to accompany Seijas on a trade mission to Brazil in September, and for three employees to accompany commissioner Audrey Edmonson on a trade mission to Africa last month.

Both trips came at the height of debate over the county's historic $444 million budget deficit, which resulted in layoffs and steep cuts in social-service funding.

After The Herald filed a public records request for recent travel records -- but before the documents were released -- Ojeda inserted a ``memo to file'' instructing himself to ask his board's permission to reimburse the county for the Africa trip from a trust fund that does not include taxpayer money.

In the note, Ojeda reminds himself to raise the issue at the next board meeting Dec. 5. Ojeda did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

At the same meeting, Ojeda will propose postponing a trade mission planned for Germany in early 2010, Alvarez spokeswoman Victoria Mallette said Thursday.

``The mayor supports this recommendation,'' she said.

Calls for reform have come from others, too.

Commissioner Rebeca Sosa said elected officials should consider traveling with other Miami groups involved in international commerce, such as the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and Beacon Council. ``We need to evaluate if there is duplication,'' she said.

In January 2008, Sosa went on an ITC mission to the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain.

After that trip, Sosa said she organized a group from the Beacon Council, the chamber and Miami International Airport to pursue direct flights between the Canaries and Miami. She deliberately did not include the ITC in the effort, she said.

Last June, Air Europa inaugurated a weekly service.

``I never sought the ITC's help because I realized I needed professionals,'' Sosa said.

Still, some on the 13-member commission remain staunch defenders of the ITC, known in some quarters as ``International Travel for Commissioners.''

Seijas, who has led recent missions to Brazil, Ireland, Taiwan and Japan, has publicly backed the group. ``I don't think she's available for a comment, or interested in commenting,'' said chief of staff Terry Murphy.

Commission Chairman Dennis Moss, who led a 2007 mission to the Bahamas, warned that if the group's role is diminished, Miami's status as an international trading hub could be, too.

``If we are not there working and trying to nurture relationships . . . then other people are,'' Moss said. ``Without trade, this city suffers.''

Not everyone shares his pessimism.

``Miami was on the map before the ITC was founded,'' said Gimenez. ``And if the ITC goes away, I think Miami will stay on the map.''