Product Exporting Assistance

International Trade Administration (ITA)/ U.S. Department of Commerce

The ITA is dedicated to opening markets for U.S. products and producing assistance and information to exporters. ITA units include (1) 104 domestic Export Assistance Centers and 158 overseas commercial export-focused offices in the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service network: (2) industry experts and market and economic analysts in the Trade Development unit; and (3) trade compliance and market access experts in the Market Access and Compliance offices. http://www.trade.gov.

Trade Information Center (TIC)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

The Trade Information Center is the first stop for companies seeking export assistance from the federal government. TIC trade specialists: (1) advise exporters on how to find and use government programs; (2) guide businesses through the export process; (3) provide country and regional business counseling on standards and trade regulations, distribution channels, opportunities and best prospects for U.S. companies, import tariffs/taxes and customs procedures, and common commercial difficulties; (4) direct businesses to market research and trade leads; (5) provide information on overseas and domestic trade events and activities; and (6) supply sources of public and private export financing. http://www.tradeinfo.doc.gov.

The Export Assistance Center Network/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

The U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Export-Import bank (Ex-Im), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have formed a unique partnership to establish a nationwide network of Export Assistance Centers (EACs). EACs are located in over 100 cities throughout the United States and serve as one-stop shops that provide small- and medium-sized American businesses with hands-on export marketing and trade finance support. http://www.usatradeonline.gov.

Office of International Trade (OIT)/Small Business Administration (SBA)

The Office of International Trade works in coordination with other federal agencies and public and private sector organizations to encourage small businesses to expand their export activities and to assist small businesses seeking to export. OITs outreach efforts include regional initiatives with Russia, Ireland, Argentina, Mexico and Egypt. http://ww.sba.gov/oit.

Global Technology Network (GTN)/ U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Operated by USAID’s Business Development office, the Global Technology Network receives technology requests from Asia, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, the Newly Independent States, and the Near East in the environmental area. GTN distributes these trade leads, via fax and e-mail, to appropriate U.S. businesses, service firms and trade associations that are registered with GTN. GTN representatives are located in 10m Latin American countries, 5 Sub-Saharan countries and 10 Asian nations. GTN transmits these leads to U.S. firms within 48 hours of receipt from GTN offices. http://www.usgtn.net.

E-Marketplace/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

E-Marketplace is a unique public/private partnership project with IBM that establishes a one-stop international marketplace for small to medium-sizes enterprises to identify potential international partners and transact business online. E-Marketplace includes managed/targeted trade leads, on-line catalogs, automated searching and sourcing, financing, logistics, currency conversion, due diligence, landed cost calculation, and tariff and duty calculation. http://www.buyusa.com.

MyExports.com™/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. firms can register their business profile free at http://www.myexports.com to promote their products before a worldwide audience.

Getting Started – A Basic Guide to Exporting

This “Exporting 101” primer is indexed by chapter and can be reviewed in its entirety online. It is a must the new-to-exporting company. It was prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce with the assistance of a wide range of government agencies. http://www.unzco.com/basicguide/index.html

U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Development Unit Office for Environmental Technologies Industries

The Environmental Technologies Industries (ETI) office is the principal resource and key contact point within the U.S. Department of Commerce for American environmental technology companies. ETI's goal is to facilitate and increase exports of environmental technologies, goods and services by providing support and guidance to U.S. exporters. http://www.environment.ita.doc.gov.