HELPING BUSINESS CONNECT THROUGH TRADE SHOWS • TRADE MISSIONS • SPECIAL EVENTS • CUSTOM DISPLAYS
A Basic Guide to Exporting
The standard for more than 70 years and updated for 2012, this is the complete reference on how to establish and grow overseas markets for your products and services. The 250-page guide is free online and covers topics such as:
A Guide to Foreign Exhibiting (PDF)
Written
by our founder with more than 50 years of exporting experience, this quick, clear and realistic overview explains
what you can expect from start to
finish.
Trade Information Center
The Trade Information Center is staffed by export
professionals capable of advising you on all aspects of the export process.
Contact them if you need assistance with export documentation, U.S. and foreign
market regulations, trade complaints, market research and more. Individual assistance invited via phone 800-USA-TRADE (800-872-8723) or email.
Services for U.S. Companies
The promotional arm of the International Trade
Administration—the U.S. Commercial Service—shows you what you need to connect with lucrative business
opportunities. They’ll help to
develop trade finance and insurance strategies that align with your business
objectives and help you complete your export transaction.
Includes:
Foreign Trade Zones
Designated locations throughout the U.S. where companies can
use special procedures that help encourage U.S. activity and value added by allowing delayed or reduced duty payments on foreign merchandise, as well as other savings.
Export.gov
Resource guide/list of companies that provide financial assistance
Tradesource (PDF)
TradeSource: Help from Federal Agencies: Expanding to New Markets
Guide to expert assistance in global business from the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State and Agriculture and U.S. Ex-Im Bank—with offices located in the U.S. and around the world
Search international trade events:
Trade Fair Certification
Your U.S. Department of Commerce assurance that an event’s
organizer has agreed to maintain a list of high-quality
standards
Market Research
A step-by-step guide
to international market research, as well as access to the U.S. Commercial
Service Market Research Library, which contains more than 100,000 industry and country-specific market reports.
A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters (PDF): ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL
U.S. Government International Financing Programs
Central resource,
including:
STEP (State Trade and Export Promotion) Grants
A 3-year pilot trade and export initiative (announced in
2010) funded by federal grants and
matching funds from the states, to help increase the number of small
businesses that are exporting and to raise the value of exports for those
currently exporting.
Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im)
The official export credit agency of the United States assumes credit and country risks that
the private sector is unable or unwilling to accept. The organization helps to
level the playing field for U.S. exporters by matching the financing that other
governments provide to their exporters. Ex-Im Bank provides working
capital guarantees (pre-export financing); export credit insurance; and
loan guarantees and direct loans (buyer financing).
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce - International
The world’s largest business organization representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions. Members range from mom-and-pop shops and local chambers to leading industry associations and large corporations.
U.S. Commercial Service Advocacy Center
The center coordinates U.S. Government resources and authority.
Services range from U.S. Embassy and Consulate assistance to Sub-Cabinet
and Cabinet messages delivered through a variety of media (e.g., letters, phone
calls, or face-to-face meetings).
The Advocacy Center
also works with Ex-Im Bank, the Trade and Development Agency and the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation to marshal USG financial support, where
appropriate, to relevant and qualified U.S. companies
Insurance and Risk Mitigation
See how you, as an exporter, can both finance your export activities and mitigate the risk of
non-payment. Information on policies that can help you offer credit to your
international buyers and access working capital funds.
Food Export Association of the Midwest USA
Non-profit organizations composed of 22 Midwestern and Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies that use federal, state, and industry resources to help U.S. suppliers increase product sales overseas.
Tradeport
Resource center for trade information and assistance. TradePort additionally provides trade development services and support for the following:
California and North American businesses seeking to market around the world;
international buyers seeking to purchase products from North America;
overseas sellers seeking to market select products in North America.
U.S. Customs Trade Information
The agency facilitates legitimate trade while enforcing U.S. trade laws that protect the economy, the health and the safety of the American people through close partnerships with the trade community, other government agencies and foreign governments. All essential links are here.
Incoterms® 2010 (International Chamber of Commerce)
Accurately and easily complete key shipping information, comply with the law and take advantage of
the duty-free benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
U.S. Export Assistance Centers or State
Each U.S. Export Assistance Center is staffed by
professionals from the Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of
Commerce, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, and other public and private
organizations. Together, their mission
is to provide the help you need to
compete in today’s global marketplace.
Contact your local trade specialist; professionals who
provide counseling and a variety of products and services to assist small and
midsized U.S. businesses export their products and services.
The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of
the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals
in 100+ U.S. cities and in more than 75 countries help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets.
The Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC)
Comprises 20 federal agencies, chaired by the Secretary of
Commerce, that work together to coordinate and
streamline trade promotion and financing services. The TPCC
develops and implements a government-wide
strategic plan for Federal trade promotion efforts, and submits the annual
National Export Strategy report to Congress.
U.S. Government Partner Exporting Agencies
National Export Initiative
Announced April 20, 2010, the NEI is President Barack Obama’s multi-year effort to increase U.S. jobs by
increasing the number of companies exporting and expanding the number of
markets current U.S. companies sell to. Watch video on Youtube.
World Trade Centers Assciation
World Trade Centers Association connects its business community to the people, the companies, the data and the government agencies that make up the fabric of global commerce.
Members receive
trade Information, market research, international trade courses, worldwide business
services (such as temporary office facilities and translations) and club
privileges for themselves and their guests.
The American Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AMCHAMs)
The organization advances the interests of American business overseas. They are voluntary
associations of American companies and individuals doing business in a
particular country, as well as firms and individuals of that country who
operate in the United States.
Industry and Trade Associations
Some industry and trade associations can supply valuable
information on market demand for products/services outside the U.S. Some will also refer members to export
management companies.
World Trade Point Federation
Global trade facilitator and trade information provider for SMEs (small and medium enterprises), particularly those in developing and Least Developed Countries, through its unique human network and local know-how combined with its global e-business marketplace.
Economic Development Organizations
BLOGS
Tradeology Blog
The blog of the ITA. Searchable blogs in nearly 40 categories from Chile to the Paris Air Show to Green and Sustainable.
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Division blog
Searchable: discuss the Foreign Trade Regulations, Export
Filing (AES), Trade Data, and other trade related topics. Posts are current and relevant to filers, exporters, data users, or “curious blog readers”.
Dedicated to providing news, information and resources about the business of international trade. You will find the information useful to both business owners who wish to begin exporting or expand their export markets and new entrepreneurs seeking the basics of how to get started.
Free online resource devoted to the import/export compliance community. Provide the latest and most interesting news, commentary, and information related import export compliance regulations.
E-MAILED UPDATES
Export.gov
Choose from nearly two dozen topics, from exporting announcements, news, specific industry updates to NEI information.
International Business Information on the Web - Directory of useful
sites
The Internationalist - Business info by
country
Export Yellow Pages
The Economist - Insight and opinionon
international news, politics, business, finance, science and technology.
F.A.S. - Federation of American Scientists
Business In Asia - FAQ