U.S. Government Export Assistance—Part 3: The U.S. Commercial Service

U.S. Government Export Assistance—Part 3: The U.S. Commercial Service Whether you intend to export for the first time or have exported over a thousand times, the successful and popular go-to-market programs provided by the U.S. Commercial Service will benefit your sales growth and expansion plans, help you become more efficient and effective in your performance, and help you reach your ultimate goal to generate more revenue and profits for your company.
Home New book offers assistance to the growing number of small companies involved in international trade "Eagan, MN—In July 1999, a New York company was fined $900,000 by the U.S. Department of Commerce and denied its export privileges for one year for failing to properly follow U.S. export regulations. And they were not alone. Every year, the U.S. governmen Exporters Can Avoid $100 Filing Fee for SEDs with Shipping Solutions 2000 Export Software "Eagan, MN—As of November 1, 2000, ocean carriers have begun charging $100 for each Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) submitted on paper with an export shipment. Exporters can easily avoid this charge by using Shipping Solutions 2000 export documentatio Companies can now file their export documents electronically using Shipping Solutions 2000 software "Eagan, MN—Due to a major initiative by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. companies that export will now be able to file their Shipper’s Export Declarations (SEDs) over the Internet absolutely free using InterMart’s Shipping Solutions 2000 export software." New on-line forum provides free help for international trade professionals "Eagan, MN—In its continuing efforts to serve the needs of small and mid-sized companies involved in international trade, InterMart, Inc. has created a free on-line forum to provide real-time answers to import-export questions. Forum participants can post New Software Eases the Burden of Export Paperwork "Eagan, MN—International trade professionals burdened by the mountain of export documents they must prepare can now find relief in a new software program from InterMart, Inc. The company’s Shipping Solutions 2000 export software dramatically reduces the InterMart unveils International Business Training division, web site "Eagan, MN—InterMart, Inc., developer of the popular Shipping Solutions export documentation software, has unveiled a new division concentrating on the educational needs of small and mid-sized U.S. companies involved in import and export. InterMart to introduce Shipping Solutions 3.0 at 1997 International Exporters-Importers Conference "Minneapolis, MN—InterMart, Inc. today announced the release of version 3.0 of its popular Shipping Solutions export documentation software. The upgrade includes a variety of new export forms and other enhancements designed to make the software even easie InterMart announces version 2.0 of its popular Shipping Solutions export documentation software "Minneapolis, MN—InterMart, Inc. today announced the release of version 2.0 of its Shipping Solutions™ export documentation software, a company spokesman announced today. The upgrade, which includes a variety of new export forms and other enhancements des InterMart releases a network version of its Shipping Solutions software "Minneapolis, MN—InterMart, Inc. today released a network version of its Shipping Solutions™ export documentation software that will allow a variety of desktop users to access the Shipping Solutions database, a company spokesman announced today." InterMart introduces Shipping Solutions international export documentation software "Minneapolis, MN—InterMart, Inc. today introduced an export shipping software that reduces the amount of time businesses need to devote to completing the myriad of export documents by up to 80 percent, a company spokesman announced today." Shipping Solutions software adds easy and affordable export compliance through partnership with NextLinx Corporation EAGAN, MN - Small and medium-sized companies will soon have an easy and affordable solution for ensuring that their international shipments comply with U.S. export regulations. Shipping Solutions is teaming up with NextLinx Corporation to offer NextLinx's Shipping Solutions Upgrades Best Selling Software Solution For Export Documentation EAGAN, MN—Shipping Solutions announces the latest version of its best-selling software, Shipping Solutions Professional. The easy-to-use Shipping Solutions Professional guides novice and experienced exporters as they easily complete dozens of standard exp Shipping Solutions Upgrades Best-Selling Export Documentation and Compliance Software EAGAN, MN – Shipping Solutions announces version 7.1 of its best-selling software, Shipping Solutions Professional. This easy-to-use export software guides novice and experienced exporters as they complete and print export forms, file their shipments elec Nextlinx Launches New Restricted Party Screening Service ROCKVILLE, MD - Cost-efficient Service Affords Small Businesses Opportunity to Screen Customers, Suppliers Against Restricted Party Lists New release of Shipping Solutions adds new forms and compliance features to best-selling export software EAGAN, MN —Shipping Solutions is releasing version 7.2 of its Shipping Solutions Professional export documentation and compliance software. The software automates the process of creating the documents required for U.S. exports by up to 80% by eliminating Shipping Solutions Customers Give High Marks to Top-Selling Export Software According to a recent survey of Shipping Solutions export documentation and compliance software customers, the typical Shipping Solutions user works for a U.S. manufacturing company that exports to Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico and uses Shipping Shipping Solutions Launches Affordable Compliance Tools for Small and Medium-Sized Export Companies Small and medium-sized businesses that have found it difficult to meet their export compliance responsibilities now have an affordable online solution at their disposal. Shipping Solutions has just officially launched its collection of international trad Shipping Solutions® to Present Export Solutions Along with Google, eBay and Others at “Web Revolution for Business” Conference David M. Noah, president and founder of InterMart, Inc., will be presenting his company’s Shipping Solutions export documentation and compliance software at the “Web Revolution for Business” conference in San Diego on August 14-15, 2007, at the Eleanor Ro Export Professional David Noah Joins SBTV.com with Exclusive Money-Saving Tips When it comes to exporting, small firms lead the way in the United States. Founder and president of Shipping Solutions, David Noah, joins SBTV.com in an exclusive podcast series to provide tips on keeping up in the fast-paced world of exporting. The Three R’s of U.S. Exporting You all know about the three academic R’s, of Reading wRiting and aRithmetic. But are you familiar with the three Rs of exporting: the FTR, the EAR and the ITARs? Changes to U.S. Export Regulations Impact Entity List Transfers Before you commence with your next export transaction, be sure that you are aware of the amendments that have been applied to three specific sections of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) with regard to parties who appear on the Entity List. Exporting to Cuba in the Midst of a Trade Embargo Since the early 1960’s the United States has imposed an aggressive trade embargo on Cuba, but there have been some recent amendments to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that will allow a bit more flexibility in exporting some merchandise to the Market Opportunities in Russia—Part 3 As the world’s largest country in terms of area that is 1.8 times the size of the United States and spanning 11 time zones from Eastern Europe to Northern Asia, Russia and its population of almost 142 million people represent a huge market opportunity for EAR/ITAR: The Deemed Export Rule Companies must understand that even the slightest exposure of technology or information by a company to any foreign national can trigger the deemed export rule and cause the company to violate U.S. export regulations. Such a release could cause criminal a The Rotterdam Rules: An Update—Part 1 This is the first of two articles dealing with “The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea,” which are commonly known as the Rotterdam Rules. This article provides the background to the proce EAR/ITAR Export Risk Assessments: Handling Risks, Improving Performance and Generating ROI In today’s post 9/11 regulatory climate, if you are operating your exporting and importing business without a serious eye focused on regulations, you are setting yourself up for serious consequences and are in for a long, hard bumpy ride. It will be a rid The Rotterdam Rules: The Issues—Part 2 This is the second of two articles dealing with “The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea,” which are commonly known as the Rotterdam Rules. The first article provided the background to the A Shortcut for Doing Business in Africa, the Near East and South Asia If your company is currently doing business or looking to start doing business in Africa, the Near East, and South Asia (the ANESA countries), there is a unique opportunity to meet one-on-one with senior U.S. Commercial Service Officers from 18 key ANESA India: The Big Emerging Market—Part 1 With Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth more than double that of the United States and the United Kingdom during the past decade, India is one of the most promising and fastest growing economies in the world. Its skilled managerial and technical manpower International Letters of Credit: Best Practices for Exporters—Part 1 An international letter of credit (L/C) is a method of payment that is particularly suited to high value/high risk transactions. It is one of the four traditional methods of payment and is quite complex. In this first article in a two-part series on lette Incoterms Plain and Simple Incoterms enjoy worldwide recognition and, through their universal implementation, accurately reflect the standard for carrying out international trade practices. Incoterms closely correspond to the U. N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sal Export Transaction Compliance In today’s world we must all be extremely diligent in our efforts to ensure that every export transaction is compliant with the applicable regulations, as well as ensure that all parties to an export transaction are aware of the fact that they are bound b India: The Big Emerging Market—Part 2 India, the world's fastest growing free-market democracy, presents lucrative and diverse opportunities for multinationals and smaller manufacturers and marketers with the right products, services, and commitment. India’s infrastructure, transportation, en India: The Big Emerging Market—Part 3 In this third in a series of articles on India I discuss the challenges international marketers face when investing and marketing in India. The multiple challenges include unemployment and lack of infrastructure, piracy and counterfeiting, tariff and non- Socks First, Then Shoes When I get dressed in the morning, I put on my pants first, then socks and then my shoes. Some days I live on the wild side and put my socks on first then pants then shoes. I’ve learned through experience, however, never to put my shoes on first. These ar Chambers of Commerce: Your Local Resource for Certificates of Origin and More Exporters often think of chambers of commerce only in terms of signing Certificates of Origin. But are there other services and programs that chambers of commerce provide to assist you in your export process? The answer is a big “Yes.” Business savvy m International Letters of Credit: Best Practices for Exporters—Part 2 An international letter of credit (L/C) is a method of payment that is particularly suited to high value/high risk transactions. Part 1 in this series of two articles on letters of credit gave some background information and introduced the transaction fl India: The Big Emerging Market—Part 4 India’s economy remains beset by stubborn inefficiencies that have hindered progress and prosperity for decades. It has a decrepit transportation system, inadequate communication and electrical infrastructure, and an obstructionist bureaucracy. To succee Visitor Control Program Tips for Exporters First impressions are very important. The manner in which you receive visitors into your company can create positive images of a quality organization and a favorable attitude about doing business with you. It can also directly impact whether or not your c Upcoming Export Control System Reform If you are involved in the exportation of merchandise from the United States, then you will want to be more vigilant than ever as the export control reform initiative, which was announced by President Obama last August, begins to unfold in front of us. The Black Magic of International Trade In many companies the art of moving goods across international borders is viewed as black magic. In fact, I have a colleague who keeps a magic wand in his desk just for such emergencies. When Inventory or Shipping begin screaming about backorders and de Export Encryption Rule Revisions The Obama Administration has pledged to conduct an extensive review of our current export control system and to implement changes as necessary to streamline the entire export process. One of the first changes came to light in June. It has just become a li The Compliant Organization—Part 1: Where Does Trade Compliance Belong? I am frequently asked where the trade compliance office should be placed within an importing or exporting organization. Should it be part of sales, accounting, shipping, legal, purchasing, supply chain? My answer may seem flippant, and among readers of th AmChams Advance the Interests of American Businesses Overseas American Chambers of Commerce, traditionally referred to as AmChams, are formed to advance the interests of American overseas businesses through advocacy, information, networking and business support services. Currently, there are 94 AmChams in 82 countri The Ship's Rail is Dead: Incoterms 2010 After much fanfare, the text of the Incoterms 2010 has been recently released. The International Chamber of Commerce has done quite a good job of marketing the new rules before they take effect on 1 January, 2011. There are some considerable changes that New Release of Shipping Solutions Professional Export Software Adds New Incoterms 2010; Currency Options for Invoices EAGAN, MN—Shipping Solutions is releasing version 7.50 of its Shipping Solutions Professional export documentation and compliance software. The software automates the process of creating the documents required for U.S. exports by up to 80% by eliminating Planning Ahead: The US Importer Security Filing and the EU Entry Summary Declaration Since the earliest days of Christopher Columbus and shipping goods around the globe, customs authorities at destination first learned of a shipment’s existence as it arrived within the port limits and customs territory. Times have changed. Today customs a The Compliant Organization—Part 2: The Centralized vs. Decentralized Supply Chain When deciding where to place a trade compliance office within a corporation, we must consider the structure of that organization. Some companies are centralized with a headquarters that manages all activities within the firm. Other companies are decent International Logistics: Four Critical Elements The transport of cargo is one of the most critical aspects of international trade. As essential as transport is, however, it is only a means to an end—goods are transported from origin to destination to meet demand. Demand is driven by what individuals w Export Enforcement Coordination Center We have heard quite a bit of news this year regarding the efforts to reform our current export control system. The Obama Administration announced earlier this month the establishment of an Export Enforcement Coordination Center. In order to effectively e Do What You Say! Say What You Do! The Policy & Procedure Manual Importers and exporters have an obligation to exercise due diligence in conforming to the myriad of trade regulations. On the import side of trade the regulations describe a heightened level of due diligence called "reasonable care." What does this mean? U.S. Government Export Assistance—Part 1: Worldwide Export Potential Ninety-five percent of the world's customers and more than 70% of the world's purchasing power is outside the U.S. borders. This reality presents tremendous opportunities for U.S. businesses of all sizes that are savvy enough to utilize assistance from U. If You Export, You Probably Import Too While we might be loathe to admit it, a certain number of the goods we export are returned to us. When those goods are returned they are subject to duties and user fees upon importation into the U.S. As long as we can prove those goods are of U.S. origin, U.S. Government Export Assistance—Part 2: Sales and Marketing Help I have said it before, and I say it again: The U.S. Department of Commerce is one of the best bargains around and one of the best kept secrets in the business of exporting. Incoterms® 2010 Freight and Associated Charges—Part 1: Just who is Responsible? A fundamental aspect of any sale of goods transaction is costing the product accurately. This equally applies to both the seller and the buyer. This article will discuss the responsibilities of the seller and buyer in relation to freight and associated ch Are CBP Regions Making a Comeback? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs & Border Protection have announced the implementation of a regional command center in Arizona. For the commercial trade community this a giant red flag and most likely means big trouble ahead. Wh Introducing the Export-Import Bank of the United States The Export-Import Bank of the United States has programs that help small businesses begin or expand their export efforts by helping manage the commercial risk factors. The Ex-Im Bank provides a service left void by commercial insurers and lenders to suppo Yes, Virginia, You Really Do Have to Do Your Own Classification A request is coming down from corporate. I need to provide them supporting evidence as to why we, as a manufacturer and distributor, should be responsible for providing the HTS codes for importing and exporting. On the import side they think we should jus Getting Started with the Export-Import Bank of the United States In my last article I introduced you to the resources available through the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). So, now that I’ve convinced you to look into their services, you may be wondering: “How do I begin?” The Ex-Im Bank knows y The Harmonized System Is Changing in 2012. Don’t Quote Me But… Perhaps you’ve heard? The Harmonized System Convention (HS) is to be revised yet again! It seems as if it were only yesterday when the World Customs Organization (WCO) released the HS 2007 edition. As importers and exporters it means we need to update our Doing Business in South Africa—Part 1: An Introduction Located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa, South Africa is a middle-income emerging market with an abundant supply of natural and labor resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transportation sectors; a stock ex Incoterms® 2010 Freight and Associated Charges—Part 2: Variations In Usage and Practice In the first article of this three-part series, I discussed the responsibilities of the seller and buyer in relation to freight and associated charges depending on the Incoterms® 2010 rule chosen in the contract of sale. In this article I will focus on so Doing Business in South Africa—Part 2: The Value Proposition Located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa, South Africa is a middle-income emerging market with an abundant supply of natural and labor resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transportation sectors; a stock ex Incoterms® 2010 Freight and Associated Charges—Part 3: Best Practices One of the critical factors for sellers and buyers is undoubtedly cost. The seller needs to carefully gather all necessary information to be able to set an appropriate cost that, whilst producing the highest profit possible, will still make the price attr Doing Business in South Africa—Part 3: Who’s Doing Business There Now Given South Africa’s value proposition outlined in my last article, there are numerous opportunities for marketing and selling consumer and business-to-business products in multiple sectors and in multiple industries. Let us review the global players that Determining the Commercial Invoice Value of Samples Many times we ship items to customers free of charge as an incentive for a bulk order or just as samples for them to try out. I've always thought that their actual value must be listed on the Commercial Invoice whether we charge the customer or not. Usual Doing Business in South Africa—Part 4: Operational and Marketing Challenges Since the end of apartheid and its first democratic elections in 1994, South Africa has liberalized the economy, enacted economic reforms to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), and performed consistently well on various surveys of competitiveness and When to Use Six Versus 10 Digits of Your Schedule B Codes During the past year, we have been working diligently to ensure that our documents clearly reflect all the details and information needed for export and import clearance. This has included a project to ensure that our classifications for export are accura	In Part 2 of my series of articles on U.S. government assistance, I wrote about the types of assistance that is available to exporters from the U.S. Department of Commerce. In Part 3 I will outline some of the specific programs available through the U.S. Commercial Service, which is the trade promotion arm of Commerce. Whether you intend to export for the first time or have exported over a thousand times, the successful and popular go-to-market programs provided by the U.S. Commercial Service will benefit your sales growth and expansion plans, help you become more efficient and effective in your performance, and help you reach your ultimate goal to generate more revenue and profits for your company. Specifically, I will describe the Gold Key Service, International Partner Search, International Company Profile, Featured U.S. Exporter, and Customized Market Research. Every day the Commercial Service helps many companies export their goods and services through these assistance programs. For more than 40 years as both a recipient of this assistance in private industry as well as seeing first-hand hundreds of companies benefit from these services, I am a strong proponent of utilizing successful techniques to connect to lucrative opportunities and increase the bottom line. Successful export managers and international marketing managers view these programs as investments rather than costs. For what you get for your money, the investment in any of these services is a bargain by any standard. The following is a brief description of each service. The prices mentioned are current, however, be sure to verify this with your Commercial Service Trade Specialist because they are subject to change. Gold Key Service Fee: Large companies $2,300; small/medium (less than 500 employees) companies $700. If you are interested in pre-screened appointments arranged before you go overseas, this service is designed to reduce the time and money you invest in locating and screening prospective trade partners. The Commercial Service can help you find potential overseas agents, distributors, sales representatives and business partners. This enables you to spend your time doing what you do best—managing your company. Let the U.S. Commercial Service arrange business meetings with pre-screened contacts representatives, distributors, professional associations, government contacts, and/or licensing or joint venture partners. The Gold Key matching services offer: Customized market and industry briefings with trade specialists. Timely and relevant market research. Appointments with prospective trade partners in key industry sectors. Post-meeting debriefing with trade specialists and assistance in developing appropriate follow-up strategies. Help with travel, accommodations, interpreter service, and clerical support. International Partner Search Fee: Large companies $1,400; small/medium companies $550. You can find a pre-qualified overseas business partner quickly and easily using the Commercial Service's International Partner Search, which will put trade specialists in over 80 countries to work finding you the most suitable strategic partners. You provide your marketing materials and background on your company. The Commercial Service will use their strong network of international contacts to interview potential partners and provide you with a list of up to five pre-qualified partners. You save valuable time and money by: Obtaining high-quality market information on the marketability and sales potential for your products and services. Receiving complete contact information on key officers at each potential partner that is interested in your company along with information on their size, sales, years in business, number of employees, and a statement from each potential partner on the marketability of your product or service. Getting all this information in approximately 30 business days or as negotiated with your overseas office. International Company Profile Fee: Large company $900; small/medium company $600. Do you ever need to obtain a reliable credit check on international partners? The Commercial Service's International Company Profile service provides you with financial reports on companies in over 80 countries. Their worldwide network of specialists can investigate the financial strength of a company and provide useful information gleaned from the local press, industry contacts, and other sources. These reports are required by many export financing organizations. This service provides: A detailed credit report on a prospective overseas sales representative or partner in approximately 15 days or by the date negotiated with the overseas office. A listing of the company's key officers and senior management. Banking and other financial information about the company. Market information, including sales and profit figures, and potential liabilities. The Commercial Service will also provide you with an opinion as to the viability and reliability of the overseas company or individual you have selected as well as an opinion on the relative strength of that company's industry sector in your target market. To find out more about these services contact an Export Assistance Center near you. In the event you are a first-time exporter, you are in luck because the Commercial Service will provide the first service you use—any one of the three above—for a fee of $350. In addition to services I've mentioned above, there are two additional popular programs that you may seriously want to consider: the Featured U.S. Exporter and the Customized Market Research programs. Featured U.S. Exporter (FUSE) With this program, you can promote your products and services to millions of international buyers, distributors and representatives by listing your company profile on the local websites of the Commercial Service. Your company profile will be posted online in the local language and will remain on the site for one year. The Commercial Service can help you translate your product description into the local language. This online listing is an effective and inexpensive way to gain international exposure and test international markets. This service is available in over 60 countries in 15 different languages. Visit the FUSE website for more information. FUSE is an annual subscription and listings are published online for one year. Commercial Service pricing is tiered to reflect their primary mission of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The base participation fee for SMEs is $150 for each set of five markets. FUSE listings are sold in sets of five markets (e.g., 5, 10, 15, and 20) with a minimum purchase of $150 required for SMEs. Listings are in English unless otherwise noted. A translation fee of $50 per language applies to listings that require translation into the local language. The Commercial Service does not provide a discount for translations provided by clients as these translations still have to be reviewed and verified by their overseas translation team. Customized Market Research Do you know the potential market for your product or service in an overseas country? Is your product subject to safety standards? Who are your competitors? Do you need fast, customized market research that answers your international business questions? The Commercial Service can provide answers to these and other specific questions you may have regarding a foreign market for your products or services. They can help you identify and evaluate key dynamics of the market, and to understand the opportunities and challenges it offers. You have the flexibility to design your own set of questions. The Customized Market Research program makes use of the Commercial Service's vast network of industry associations, government agencies, importers, distributors, end-users and manufacturers to provide you with information critical to your international success. Here is what you can expect from these Customized Research Reports: Gauge sales potential in an overseas market. Choose the best new markets for your product or service. Establish effective selling and distribution strategies in specific markets. Find the best channels for getting your product to market. Discover what factors influence potential customers. Identify your competitors. Overcome potential market impediments, including quotas, duties, and regulations. Obtain the pricing of comparable products. Price is dependent on the level of detail involved, the availability of information, and the time required to conduct the research. Report content and turn-around time are discussed and agreed upon ahead of time. To order a customized market research report, contact your local Commercial Service Office and ask to speak with a trade specialist. In today's tough global business environment, exporters large and small, old and new need as much assistance as possible. Utilizing the services and the friendly, knowledgeable and well-connected staff of the Commercial Service may be just the help you are looking for.
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