|
|
Selling your products online allows for immediate entry into the global marketplace. However, shipping your product overseas presents a few challenges if have little experience with taxes, duties, customs laws, and consumer protection issues involved with international commerce. If you are just getting started, the following resources will help understand legal and regulatory requirements when shipping overseas:
Importing and exporting goods is a greats way to expand your business and take part in the global economy. In fact, companies that do business internationally grow faster and fail less often than companies that don't. If you are ready to get started in international trade, there are a number of government programs to help you get started. Also, there are strict regulations on importing and exporting goods, so it is critical that you understand which of these regulations apply to you.
The following pages provide information on what you need to know about importing and exporting.
Get Started in Exporting
Doing business internationally may seem overwhelming at first, however, there are a number of government programs that offer training, counseling, and financial assistance to small businesses wanting to export their products and services.
Basic Information
The following resources are starting points for learning how to start exporting your products and services overseas.
Breaking Into the Trade Game : A Small Business Guide to Exporting
A guide for businesses interested in expanding their business in international markets.Basic Guide to Exporting
Details plans for developing, marketing, and exporting products and services. Published by the Department of Commerce and Unz & Co.
Export Basics
A primer to help you assess your business' export readiness, understand what you need to know and consider before pursuing an international sales strategy, and, when you are ready, develop and implement your export strategy.Exporter's Guides to Trade Agreements
A list of all trade agreements affecting U.S. businesses in the international marketplace.International Trade : Online Courses
Free courses on exporting and doing business overseas.In-Person Assistance
The federal government offers free in-person counseling services to help small business obtain export financing and locate business opportunities overseas.
U.S. Export Assistance Centers
Located in major metropolitan areas throughout the U.S., these centers provide small and medium-sized businesses with local, personalized export assistance by professionals from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Export-Import Bank and other public and private organizations.Contact a Trade Specialist
The U.S. Commercial Service provides a network of export and industry specialists located in over 100 U.S. cities and 80 countries. These professionals provide free counseling and a variety of products and services to assist small and midsized U.S. businesses export their products and services.USTDA Consultant Database for Small Businesses
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency provides this database of companies and individuals providing fee-based consulting services to small business interested in importing and exporting.Finding Business Opportunities
If you are looking to bid on overseas contracts, grants or business opportunities, there are a few programs available to help you with your bid.
Advocacy Assistance for U.S. Exporters: What You Need to Know
The U.S. Dept of Commerce's Advocacy Center has helped hundreds of U.S. companies--small, medium and large enterprises--in various industry sectors win government contracts across the globe.U.S. Trade and Development Agency : Info for U.S. Exporters
Find out about current contracting opportunities with USTDA grant recipients in host countries.Export Controls and Licenses
Most export transactions do not require specific approval in the form of licenses from the U.S. government, although regulations regarding all exports must be followed. To determine whether a license is needed to export a particular commercial product or service, an exporter must first classify the item by identifying what is called an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) for the item. Several other federal agencies have specific export licensing requirements.
For general information on export licensing and regulations, visit Export.gov - Regulations and Licenses
The following resources provide further information on export controls and licensing:
Export Controls and Licensing Requirements : An Introduction
This page is designed to give people who are new to exporting, and, in particular, new to export controls, a general understanding of the Bureau of Industry and Security regulations and how to use them.Export Licensing Guidance
This section is designed to assist visitors through the export licensing process and provides important information that individuals and firms need to know before exporting.U.S. Export Controls and Licensing : Training and Seminars
BIS offers a wide range of export control related seminars and workshops from Complying with U.S. Export Controls to training sessions for Freight Forwarders and help in initiating an Export Management System.U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security : Export Policies and Regulations
Provides links to regulations governing exports of dual-use items (the 'Export Administration Regulations'). This site also includes discussions of certain key regulatory policy areas, including policies governing exports of high performance computers, exports of encryption products, deemed exports, U.S. antiboycott regulations, special regional considerations, the multilateral export control regimes, and the technical advisory committees.Exporting Technology and Intellectual Property
The exporting of technology has its own set of rules and regulations. Technology and Source Code Exports (Deemed Export Rule)
answers frequently asked questions about exporting technology and source code.The European Commission's Directive on Data Protection prohibits the transfer of personal data to non-European Union nations that do not meet the European 'adequacy' standard for privacy protection. The Safe Harbor Portal provides assistance to U.S. companies trying to avoid interruptions in their business dealings with the European Union countries or facing prosecution by European authorities under European privacy laws.
And Stop Fakes.Gov can help you learn how to protect your intellectual property rights (copyright, trademark, patent) when doing business overseas.
Shipping Your Products Overseas
When shipping a product overseas, the exporter must be aware of packing, labeling, documentation, insurance and other requirements of the destination country. Because of the paperwork involved, most exporters rely on a third-party international freight forwarder to perform these services.
To find an international freight forwarder and learn about specific requirements for international shipping, visit Export.gov's International Logistics web site.
How to Obtain Export Financing
How to obtain U.S. government financing to expand or develop export markets.
Small Business Guide to International Finance
Become familiar with the various government programs designed to help your company finance its export transactions, and give it the capital to carry out its export operations.
Export Express
SBA Export Express helps small businesses develop or expand their export markets by providing technical and financial programs to help business owners obtain adequate export financing.Export Working Capital Program
This SBA program supports export financing to small businesses when financing is not available on reasonable terms. The program encourages lenders to offer export working capital loans by guaranteeing repayment of up to $1.5 million or 90 percent of a loan amount, whichever is less. A loan can support a single transaction or multiple sales on a revolving basis.International Trade Loans
An SBA loan program that encourages international trade for business that establish the loan will significantly expand or develop an export market, or that the business has been adversely affected by import competition.
Export Financing Guide for Small Businesses
An interactive guide to how small businesses can increase export sales by taking advantage of government financing services.Export-Import Bank Small Business Initiative
Provides working capital guarantee and insurance products that enable small businesses to increase sales by entering new markets, expand their borrowing base, and offer buyers financing while carrying less risk. Short-term insurance policies protect an exporter against non-payment by their foreign buyers due to both commercial (insolvency, bankruptcy and default) and political risks (war, revolution, transfer risk) and also allows exporters to extend competitive credit terms to their foreign buyers.Export-Import Bank Application Tools and Guidance
List of applications and transaction tools used for doing business with the Export-Import Bank.Export-Import Bank Products and Policies
List of Export-Import Bank's lending policies and products.Export-Import Bank's Guide for Filing Multi-buyer Insurance Policies
Your Multi-buyer insurance policy provides valuable protection when some invoices go unpaid and you have to file an insurance claim with Ex-Im Bank. Unfortunately, some claims are denied because the insurance policyholder failed to do something required under the Policy. Please help us to help you avoid these mistakes. Here are four common reasons that multi-buyer insurance claims are not paid.Pre-Export Financing to Help U.S. Exporters Maximize Borrowing Potential
Ex-Im Bank's working capital financing enables U.S. exporters to obtain loans that facilitate the export of goods or services.Short-Term Single-Buyer Export Credit Insurance
Exporters of U.S. goods and services can reduce their risks of selling internationally on credit terms by insuring specific, foreign receivable with Ex-Im Bank's Short-Term Single-Buyer Export Credit Insurance Policy. This policy is a valuable tool for: Risk Mitigation - insure receivables against nonpayment by international buyers; Marketing - extend competitive credit terms to international buyers; Financing - arrange attractive financing with the exporter's lender by using insured foreign receivables as additional collateral.Small Business Export Credit Insurance Policy
The policy is a special product for small, financially viable businesses that are new to exporting, or have only occasionally exported. It can help increase an exporter's international sales by extending competitive credit terms while minimizing risks, and is valuable as a: Risk Mitigation Tool to insure receivables against nonpayment by foreign buyers; Marketing Tool to extend competitive credit terms to foreign buyers; and Financing Aid to arrange attractive financing with the exporter's lender by using insured foreign receivables as additional collateral.
Overseas Financing for Small to Medium Enterprises
OPIC provides medium- to long-term funding through direct loans and loan guaranties to eligible investment projects in developing countries and emerging markets
Trade Agreements
What are Trade Agreements?
Trade between the U.S. and other countries is regulated through bilateral investment treaties and free trade agreements. Free trade agreements have the most significant impact on small and medium-sized businesses doing business abroad. A free trade agreement is a pact between two or more countries to eliminate tariff and nontariff barriers affecting trade among them. Each participating country applies its own independent schedule of tariffs to imports from countries that are not members. The United States has several free trade agreements with several countries and regions.
How Do I Report a Trade Barrier?
Trade agreements are meant to remove barriers to trade, and the success of your business dealings overseas depend on foreign governments and companies complying with their part of the agreement.
If you encounter barriers to doing business in foreign markets, the Trade Compliance Center provides a one-stop shop for getting U.S. government assistance in resolving trade barriers or unfair situations you encounter in foreign markets.
The Center's Report a Trade Barrier form allows businesses to report barriers and unfair situations over the web. For more information about trade barriers, visit the Trade Compliance Center FAQ page, which provides answers to frequent questions about filing trade complaints and finding help to resolve trade barriers.
Business Travel
Learn about conducting business abroad, and find resources and paperwork for you and your business partners overseas.Business Travel
Conducting business abroad entails frequent international travel to visit with prospective business partners. Likewise, business partners may come to U.S. to work with you. The following resources will help you find the paperwork you and your business partners in other countries will need for traveling, and for authenticating paperwork you may need overseas.
Resources for Doing Business Abroad
The U.S. Department of State offers several information services and resources for the business traveler.
Passports
Provides information and services to American citizens about how to obtain, replace or change a passport.International Travel Resources, Tips and Advisories
Must-read resources if you are planning to go overseas to conduct business. Resources include current travel advisories, tips for international travel, document requirements.Business FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about doing business abroad, facilitating overseas investment, trade restrictions, and assisting foreign companies.Department of State, Authentications Office
The Department of State's Authentications Office is responsible for signing and issuing certificates under the Seal of the U.S. Department of Sate, authenticating business documents that will be used overseas. Documents include but are not limited to: company bylaws, powers of attorney, trademarks, diplomas, transcripts, distributorship agreements, articles of incorporation, good standing certificates, home studies, letters of reference etc. It also ensures that the requested information will serve in the interest of justice and is not contrary to U.S. policy.Importing/Exporting Specific Products
Many imported and exported products are regulated by federal agencies. If you import or export the following types of products, you may be required to obtain specific licenses and permits or complete additional paperwork:
Agricultural Products
Export Information and Assistance
Agricultural Export Assistance Handbooks and Guidelines
Provides to links to handbooks, training materials, videos, and market reports that help producers export their goods overseas.
Agricultural Export Transportation Handbook
Provides resources to help small and medium-size businesses develop an international marketing plan, discover export opportunities, and ship products overseas.Export Credit Guarantee Programs
Information on export credit guarantee programs for commercial financing of U.S. agricultural exports.
Exporter Assistance for Agriculture and Forestry Industries
A series of resources, products, and services that can help companies explore the potential for international sales.
Exporter's Matrix : Handbook for U.S. Agribusinesses
Guidelines to exporting food, farm and forest products.Facility Guarantee Program
Provides payment guarantees to finance commercial exports of U.S. manufactured goods and services that will be used to improve agriculture-related facilities.Foreign Agricultural Service Fact Sheets
Information on a variety of topics related to exporting agricultural commodities. Specific information on programs the Foreign Agricultural Service sponsors is also available.
General Sales Manager Online System
The General Sales Manager Online System enables U.S. exporters and U.S. banks to submit required documentation online, or electronically, for the GSM-102, Supplier Credit Guarantee and Facility Guarantee Programs. These programs facilitate commercial financing of U.S. agricultural exports.Market Development Programs
Information on Foreign Agricultural Service sponsored programs designed to assist in the expansion of export opportunities.Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers : FAQs
Answers to questions about TAA, which provides producers of raw commodities, who have been adversely affected by import competition, free technical assistance and cash benefits of up to $10,000 per year.
Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act : FAQs
Questions and answers about the implementation of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act.U.S. Exporter Assistance : Pricing, Quotes, and Negotiations
Information on proper pricing, complete and accurate quotations, and choice of terms for the sale of exports so that selling products in foreign markets is successful.
U.S. Exporter Assistance : Shipping Documentation, and Requirements
A series of documents outlining the shipping documentation required to export commodities and other requirements.Import Programs
Information on programs the Foreign Agricultural Service offers to promote import requirements and opportunities
Certain types of merchandise are restricted for export such as nuclear, chemical, various electronics, computer, and telecommunications / information security equipment. These are subject to the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security's Export Administration Regulations Requirement.