Export Programs Guide:

A Business Guide to Federal Export Assistance

2003–2004 edition

This guide is the U.S. government’s most comprehensive and widely distributed export

resource, a listing of all federal government programs that aid U.S. companies in exporting their goods and services around the world. Nineteen different agencies have

united to offer this publication and the many programs to help American firms succeed

in the global marketplace. Dedicated to improving federal trade promotion programs,

these agencies comprise the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC).

This edition features new and exciting programs to facilitate export financing and

trade development. One such program is BuyUSA.com, an e-marketplace for U.S.

companies to identify potential international partners and connect with them on-line.

Another new program, the Small Business Administration’s Export Express, combines

technical assistance with the easiest export loan program to date.

For additional information on the listings in this guide or for any export

questions you have, please contact the Trade Information Center

(TIC), of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The TIC is the first

stop for information on federal export assistance programs plus general, regional, and country counseling. The TIC has a team of international trade

specialists available to give you tailored

export assistance.

To contact a trade specialist, call

1-800-USA-TRAD(E), e-mail

tic@ita.doc.gov, or search

TIC’s on-line resources at

www.export.gov/tic,

where the guide is 

also available in 

PDF format.
The Trade Promotion

Coordinating Committee

Chaired by the Secretary of Commerce

Member Agencies

U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Department of State

U.S. Department of the Treasury

U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Department of Transportation

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Management and Budget

Office of the United States Trade Representative 

Council of Economic Advisors

Environmental Protection Agency

Small Business Administration

U.S. Agency for International Development

Export-Import Bank of the United States

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

U.S. Trade and Development Agency

National Economic Council 
“Trade now accounts for a quarter of all U.S. economic

activity, and it supports more than 12 million

American jobs. These are good jobs, paying as much as

18 percent more than the average. Trade has been a

major engine for growth in the world economy for over

half a century.”

U.S. Commerce Secretary, Donald L. Evans
4

The 2003–2004 Export Programs Guide was compiled under the auspices of the Trade

Information Center. The principal editor was Kristie L. Fitzwater. Editorial and production

assistance was provided by the International Trade Administration’s Office of Public Affairs.

Design and composition were done by the Typography and Design Section of the U.S.

Government Printing Office.

ISBN 0-16-051365-0

Superintendent of Documents stock no. 003-009-00729-1

Copies of this publication are available from the Trade Information Center,

tel. (800) USA-TRAD(E) (872-8723)

April 2003
Table of Contents

Chapter 1: General Export Counseling and Assistance 7

Chapter 2: Industry-Specific Counseling and Assistance 12

Chapter 3: Country-Specific Counseling and Assistance 16

Chapter 4: Trade Contact and Market Research Programs 20

Customized Programs

Electronic Matchmaking and Trade Contact Programs

Electronic and Published Market Information

Chapter 5: Making Contacts Through Trade Promotion Events 29

Domestic Trade Promotion Events

Foreign Trade Promotion Events

Chapter 6: Special Market Access and Technical Assistance 32

Chapter 7: Export Finance, Insurance, and Grants (Non-Agricultural) 37

Export Finance

Investment Finance

Grants and Funding for Feasibility Studies and 

Other Export-Related Needs

Chapter 8: Agricultural Export and Finance Programs 47

Agricultural Export Programs

Agricultural Technical Assistance

Agricultural Finance and Grant Programs

Chapter 9: Health, Performance, Quality, and Safety 

Inspection/Certification Programs 53

Chapter 10: Export Licenses and Controls 57

Appendices A. Export Assistance Center Network 59

B. TPCC Agencies and Addresses 71

Finding Aids List of Programs by Agency 74

Alphabetical Index of Programs 81

List of Acronyms 87

5
6
C h a pt er 1

General Export Counseling and Assistance

I nt er n ati o n al Tr a d e A d mi nistr ati o n (I T A)/ U. S. D e p art m e nt of C o m m er c e 

T he I nter nati o nal Tra de A d mi nistrati o n is de dicate d t o o pe ni n g mar kets f or U. S.

pr o d ucts a n d ser vices a n d pr ovi di n g assista nce a n d i nf or mati o n t o ex p orters. I T A u nits

i ncl u de: ( 1) 1 0 8 d o mestic Ex p ort Assista nce Ce nters a n d 1 6 0 overseas offices i n t he

U. S. C o m mercial Ser vice net w or k; ( 2) i n d ustr y ex perts, mar ket a n d ec o n o mic a nalysts

i n Tra de Devel o p me nt; ( 3) tra de c o m plia nce a n d mar ket access ex perts i n Mar ket

ccess a n d C o m plia nce; a n d ( 4) i m p ort p olic y a n d tra de c o m plia nce a nalysts i n t he

I m p ort A d mi nistrati o n, w hic h e nf orces la ws a n d a gree me nts t hat pr ovi de re me dies t o

d o mestic i n d ustries i nj ure d by u nfair i m p ort c o m petiti o n. T hese I T A u nits perf or m

a nalyses, pr o m ote pr o d ucts, a n d offer ser vices f or t he U. S. ex p orti n g c o m m u nit y, i nclu di n g ex p ort pr o m oti o n, c o u nseli n g, a n d i nf or mati o n pr o gra ms liste d else w here i n

t his b o o klet.

C o nt a ct: 1- 8 0 0- U S A-T R A D(E) ( 1- 8 0 0- 8 7 2- 8 7 2 3); ho me page: w w w.export.gov.

r a d e I nf or m ati o n C e nt er ( TI C)/I T A/ U. S. D e p art m e nt of C o m m er c e 

T he Tra de I nf or mati o n Ce nter is t he first st o p f or c o m pa nies see ki n g ex p ort assista nce

fr o m t he fe deral g over n me nt. TI C tra de s pecialists:

◆ dvise U. S. fir ms o n all g over n me nt ex p ort pr o gra ms;

◆ ui de b usi nesses t hr o u g h t he ex p ort pr ocess;

◆ Pr ov i de c o u ntr y a n d re gi o nal b usi ness c o u nseli n g o n sta n dar ds a n d tra de re g ulati o ns, distri b uti o n c ha n nels, o p p ort u nities a n d best pr os pects f or U. S. c o m pa nies,

tariffs a n d b or der taxes, c ust o ms pr oce d ures, a n d c o m m o n c o m mercial diffic ulties;

◆ Direct b usi nesses t o mar ket researc h a n d tra de lea ds;

◆ Pr ov i de i nf or mati o n o n overseas a n d d o mestic tra de eve nts a n d activities.

TI C tra de s pecialists als o direct b usi nesses t o state a n d l ocal tra de or ga nizati o ns t hat

pr ovi de a d diti o nal assista nce. C o u ntr y i nf or mati o n is availa ble o n Wester n E ur o pe,

Asia, t he Wester n He mis p here, Africa, a n d t he Near East.

T he Tra de I nf or mati o n Ce nter’s We b site pr ovi des a variet y of i nf or mati o n, i ncl u di n g

a ns wers t o t he m ost fre q ue ntly as ke d q uesti o ns o n ex p orti n g, t he atio n al E x port

Directory of i nter nati o nal tra de c o ntacts f or eac h state, a direct or y of f orei g n tra de offices i n t he U nite d States, a n I nter net g ui de t o ex p ort tra de lea ds, t he latest e diti o n of

t he E x port Progra ms G ui de , an d m ore. Exte nsive re gi o nal a n d c o u ntr y mar ket a n d re gulat or y i nf or mati o n is als o availa ble, i ncl u di n g assista nce wit h t he N A F T A Certificate

of Ori gi n a n d ot her free-tra de a gree me nt pr ocesses.

C o nt a ct: TI C staff, 1- 8 0 0- U S A-T R A D(E) ( 1- 8 0 0- 8 7 2- 8 7 2 3); fax ( 2 0 2) 4 8 2- 4 4 7 3; 

e- mail: tic @ita.doc.gov; ho me page: w w w.export.gov/tic.
8

U.S. Commercial Service (USCS)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The mission of the USCS is to promote the export of goods and services from the

United States, particularly by small and medium-sized businesses, and to protect U.S.

commercial interests abroad. The 1,800 trade experts in the USCS work in 108

Export Assistance Centers, conveniently located throughout the country, and in U.S.

embassies and consulates in more than 80 countries. Together, this network of trade

professionals helps U.S. companies enter markets and increase exports by offering a

wide variety of export assistance programs, from basic export counseling to specific

trade events.

Contact: For information on the USCS and its programs, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) 

(1-800-872-8723), or consult the USCS home page: www.export.gov/commercialservice.

U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) 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 Bank), the U.S. Agency for International

Development (USAID), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have

formed a nationwide network of U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs). USEACs

are located in more than 100 cities throughout the United States and serve as onestop shops that provide small and medium-sized businesses with hands-on export

marketing and trade finance support. USEACs work closely with federal, state, local,

public, and private organizations to provide unparalleled export assistance to

American businesses trying to compete in the global marketplace. USEACs are responsible for providing in-depth, value-added counseling to U.S. firms seeking to expand their international activities, as well as to companies that are just beginning to

venture into international markets. USEAC trade specialists provide global business

solutions by: (1) identifying the best markets for their clients’ products; (2) developing

effective market-entry strategies based on information generated from commercial offices; (3) facilitating the implementation of these strategies by advising clients on distribution channels, key factors to consider in pricing, and relevant trade shows and

missions; and (4) providing assistance in obtaining trade finance available through federal government programs, as well as access to state, local, public, and private sector

entities.

Contact: For the address and phone number of the USEAC nearest you, see appendix A, call

1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723), or consult the Web site at www.export.gov/

commercialservice. You can also visit the Commercial Service’s field Web sites at www.buyusa.

gov/[country].

U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) Initiatives/ITA/U.S. Department of

Commerce 

The Rural Export Initiative provides companies in rural areas with better access to

export assistance and global market research by facilitating the availability of international trade services and increasing the number of companies in rural areas engaged in
ex p orti n g. T he Gl o b al Di v ersit y I niti ati v e pr ovi des mi n orit y b usi nesses wit h t he i nter nati o nal tra de i nf or mati o n a n d i n d ustr y c o n necti o ns t hat ca n ma ke t heir pr o d ucts

or ser vices s uccessf ul i n t he gl o bal mar ket place. T he Wo m e n i n I nt er n ati o n al Tr a d e

I niti ati v e offers t he ex pertise, net w or k, a n d ex perie nce of t he C o m mercial Ser vice t o

meet t he nee ds of w o me n i n i nter nati o nal tra de.

C o nt a ct: For more infor mation, contact Selina Marquez, ( 2 0 2) 4 8 2- 4 7 9 9; e- mail: selina.

marquez @ mail.doc.gov; or vie w the ho me page: w w w.export.gov/co m mercialservice.

U S A Tr a d e C e nt er/ U. S. D e p art m e nt of C o m m er c e

T he U S A Tra de Ce nter bri n gs t o get her ex p ort-assista nce c o m p o ne nts of t he U. S.

De part me nt of C o m merce t o ser ve as a si n gle s o urce f or tra de i nf or mati o n, researc h

s u p p ort, c o u nseli n g, a n d i n d ustr y c o ns ultati o n. T he C o m merce De part me nt’s clie nts

can o btai n c o m pre he nsive ex p ort hel p a n d re g ulat or y a dvice o n all U. S. g over n me nt

pr o gra ms, i nf or mati o n o n ex p orti n g t o all c o u ntries, a n d access t o a tra de refere nce librar y a n d b usi ness ser vices at o ne l ocati o n i n t he R o nal d Rea ga n B uil di n g i n

as hi n gt o n, D. C.

C o nt a ct: 1- 8 0 0- U S A-T R A D(E) ( 1- 8 0 0- 8 7 2- 8 7 2 3); e- mail: tic @ita.doc.gov; ho me page:

w w w.export.gov/tic.

S m all B usi n ess Pr o gr a m/ Offi c e of E x p ort Assist a n c e a n d B usi n ess O utr e a c h

( O E A B O)/I T A/ D e p art m e nt of C o m m er c e

oc usi n g o n s mall a n d me di u m-size d e nter prises ( S M Es), i ncl u di n g w o me n- a n d min orit y- o w ne d b usi nesses, t he S mall B usi ness Pr o gra m a dv ocates f or t he s mall b usi ness

pers pective i n tra de p olic y f or m ulati o n a n d i n m ultilateral f ora, s uc h as t he Worl d

Tr a de Or ga nizati o n a n d t he Or ga nizati o n f or Ec o n o mic C o o perati o n a n d

Devel o p me nt. It als o assists S M E ex p orters, t hr o u g h o utreac h pr o gra ms, t o u n dersta n d t he be nefits of tra de a n d h o w tra de p olic y affects t heir c o m mercial s uccess.

C o nt a ct: For more infor mation on the S mall Business Progra m, contact ( 2 0 2) 4 8 2- 4 7 9 2; 

e- mail: s mall _business @ita.doc.gov; or vie w the ho me page: w w w.export.gov.

Distri ct E x p ort C o u n cils ( D E Cs)/I T A/ U. S. D e p art m e nt of C o m m er c e

D E Cs are or ga nizati o ns of lea ders fr o m l ocal b usi ness c o m m u nities w h ose k n o wle d ge

of i nter nati o nal b usi ness pr ovi des a s o urce of pr ofessi o nal a dvice f or l ocal fir ms.

Cl osely affiliate d wit h t he U. S. Ex p ort Assista nce Ce nters ( U S E A Cs), t he 5 8 D E Cs

nati o n wi de c o m bi ne t he e ner gies of m ore t ha n 1, 5 0 0 v ol u nteers t o s u p ply ex pertise t o

s mall a n d me di u m-size d b usi nesses i n t heir l ocal c o m m u nities t hat are i ntereste d i n

ex p orti n g. For exa m ple, D E Cs or ga nize se mi nars t hat ma ke tra de fi na nce u n dersta n da ble a n d accessi ble t o s mall ex p orters, h ost i nter nati o nal b uyer dele gati o ns, desi g n exp ort res o urce g ui des, a n d create ex p ort assista nce part ners hi ps t o stre n gt he n t he s u pp ort give n t o l ocal b usi nesses.

C o nt a ct: For more infor mation on DE Cs, contact your local U SE A C. For the address and phone

nu mber of the U SE A C nearest you, see Appendix A, call 1- 8 0 0- U S A-T R A D(E) ( 1- 8 0 0- 8 7 2- 8 7 2 3),

or visit w w w.export.gov/tic.
10

Ofice oIntrail Tde(OI)/Smal BusineAdmtraion (SBA)

The OficoInteraiol Trade woksith erfdalgncies adpublic and

private scorganiztos encurag smlbuines toxpand theirxpot actives, as welto asimlbunes kigtoexpr. The OIdircts andoordinates SBAxport finaced xportevlmn asitce. OIT outreach fforts include rgional tveswih Mxco, Nigera, Chile, and Egypt. In adito,

the OITdvlops hw-toand mrket-spcif ublations frexpots. The OI

ov ers SBAloan gurtepoams frlbusine xports, includg the

Export Wking CaptlProgam, whic savlbethroug U.S Export Asiance

Centrs (USEACs) andSBAfield ocsarthe country. The oficals perheads progam, throug eUSEACntwork, caled E-TAP (Export Trade

Assistance Partnership). It focusen malgroups fexort-ady companies, providng themasinc devloping exortmakes, acquirng odesrcnta,

gain cestoxpr finacg, and preigfo trademison rveashow.

Contac: Ofice oIntrail Trade, (20) 5-6720; fax(20) 5-7;home pag:

w.sbagov/it.

Smal BusineDvlopmnt Cers(SBDC)/mal BusineAdmtraion

(SBA)

Sm al BusineDvlopment Crs, located hrougt heUnitd Sates, provide

a rngeof exprt asince-particuly tosmal, new-toxpr companies-tha in

cl udes conlig, traing, and mgerial suport. Their counselig rvices arfe

to hesmal buinesxporte, but heygnraly chargefs orexpt raing seminars dother SBDC-sponred xpot evns. Many SBDCsare involed inthe

E-TAP (Export Trade Asitance Prtship) rogam.

Contac: Jorge F. Cardon, Ofice oSmalBusine Dvlopment Crs, (20) 5-73;

fax (20)5-7; homepag: w.sbagov/dc. For thelcaion ftheSBDC narestyou,

cal 1-80USATRD(E) 1-80723).

Export LegalAsitnce Nwork(ELAN)/Smal BusineAdmtraion (SBA)

The ELANisa ntowide groupfatneys iprvate ci, and exprincd 

interaol d, who prvidef ntalcosuin tew-oxprt busine

on exprt-laed mtrs. The ELANsrvice albthroug SBAdistrc ofies,

the Srvice CorpsfRetird Executivs (SCORE) ofices, and SmlBusine

Devlopmnt Cers.

Contac: For theadsn phoeumbr ftheSBA oficenarst you, cal 1-80UASK

SBA; orcntaJud Keslr, ELAN natiolcrdnato, (20) 78-3;fax (20)78-36;

e-mail: jkeslr@potewigh.com For afulist ofELANcrdinatos crheUnitd Saes,

view thompage: w.fitaorg/eln.
Servic CopsfRetird Executivs (SCORE)/mal BusineAdmtraion

(SBA)

SCORE isanorgzti f10,5retid ancvebusin xecutivs wholunter himto prvidef businecolg andtrig semnar.S pecialst, many ofwhmave intraol dexprinc, asit mlfrsin evaluting exportnial dstrenghi domestic operatins bydetifng

finacl, mangeril, or technial probems.

Contac: Nationl SCOREofice, 1-8063425; fax(20) 5-763;home pag:

w.scoreg

Minorty BusineDvlopmnt Agecy(MBDA)/U.S Departmn ofCerc

MBDA promtes habliment adgrowth fminorty-wed businetrprise nthUied Stasni theonly fderalgncy thaspecifly astminority busneof alsize. The MBDAprovides mangtdechial stance oligbfrms topearhm fosucein bothdmesic andterioal

markets. The MBDAworks cleywith Ineratiol Trade Aminstrao 

inovate wysoenga U.S minorty fimsnthe iraonlbusie arn.

Se minars fominrty fmsothe rmndous prtnies avlbinterational rde. The MBDAsuport evalminorty ademison admtchker

progams ndotifes hmnority cmunity aboulDepartmn ofCerc

trade mison.

Contac: Donald Pwers, (20) 48-671; fax(20) 48-37;home pag: w.mbdagov.

1
12

Chapter 2

Industry-Specific Counseling and Assistance

Trade Development (TD) Industry Officers/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

TD is the industry-focused arm of the International Trade Administration. Its mission

is to deliver industry analysis and trade policy support to promote the interests of U.S.

exporters, especially small and medium-sized enterprises; forge public-private partnerships to enhance the international competitiveness of U.S. industries; and initiate industry-specific trade events. TD industry and international trade specialists work directly with U.S. firms and industry associations to identify overseas trade opportunities

and obstacles by product or service, industry sector, and market. TD analysts also participate in trade policy development and negotiations and advocate on behalf of U.S.

companies to help them win foreign contracts. TD staff also develop export marketing

programs and obtain industry advice on trade matters. They organize executive trade

missions, trade fairs, product literature centers, reverse trade missions, marketing seminars, and business counseling. Experts are organized in the following sectors:

◆ Aerospace

◆ Automotive

◆ Consumer goods

◆ E-commerce

◆ Energy 

◆ Environmental technologies

◆ Information technologies

◆ Machinery

◆ Metals, materials, and chemicals

◆ Microelectronics, medical equipment, and instrumentation

◆ Services and finance

◆ Telecommunications technologies

◆ Textiles and apparel

◆ Transportation and machinery

◆ Travel and tourism

Contact: Trade statistics are available by industry on the home page of Trade Development’s

Office of Trade and Economic Analysis: www.trade.gov/tradestats. For TD industry and international trade officers, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723). To access industry office Web

sites, go to the Trade Development home page at www.trade.gov/td, or choose “Trade

Development” on the ITA home page: www.trade.gov.
Major Energy Projects Assistance/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

The Office of Energy project manager for major power, oil, and gas infrastructure

projects coordinates government assistance to help U.S. firms compete for major overseas contracts; identifies upcoming projects and develops specific information about

them; monitors worldwide energy developments; provides business counseling to contractors, engineers, constructors, and engineered systems providers; offers guidance on

appropriate market business contacts, contract bidding procedures, and strategies; provides advocacy during bidding; and maintains the Energy Projects Database, available

on the Internet.

Contact: Andrew Collier, project manager, Office of Energy, (202) 482-0680; fax (202) 

482-0170. Home page: www.ita.doc.gov/energy; select “Foreign Projects Database.”

Export Advantage for Textiles and Apparel/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

Export Advantage provides information on exporting U.S. textiles and apparel products, including more than 40 comprehensive overseas market profiles and directories

listing more than 6,800 overseas buyers and more than 2,200 U.S. suppliers on the

Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) Web site.

Contact: OTEXA home page: www.otexa.ita.doc.gov. For information on international trade shows

and events, call (202) 482-5153 or e-mail market_expansion@ita.doc.gov. For assistance with

exporting or information on foreign regulations affecting U.S. textile and apparel exports, call (202)

482-3588 or e-mail exportadvantage@ita.doc.gov.

U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

The Office of Travel and Tourism Industries functions as the U.S. federal tourism office. Among its core responsibilities is to collect, analyze, and disseminate international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System.

These include:

◆ Basic market analysis

◆ Survey of international air travelers (in-flight survey)

◆ Visitor arrivals (I-94 form)

◆ U.S. international air traveler statistics (I-92 form)

◆ Forecast of international arrivals to the United States

◆ International travel receipts and payments

◆ Impact of international visitors’ spending on state economies

◆ Travel trade recovery barometer

◆ Travel and tourism satellite accounts

Contact: Office of Travel and Tourism Industries staff at (202) 482-0140; home page:

www.tinet.ita.doc.gov.

13
14

EcoLinks, the Eurasian-American Partnership for Environmentally Sustainable

Economies/Institute for International Education (IIE)/U.S. Agency for

International Development (USAID)

EcoLinks is a USAID-funded trade and investment program that supports environmental technology representatives in selected U.S. Commercial Service offices in

Eastern Europe and Eurasia. These EcoLinks “tech reps” make use of several tools

available from USAID, the Commercial Service, and host governments to identify

business opportunities in the environmental sector, link U.S. environmental technology firms with partners in the region, and assist in financing the associated environmental projects.

Contact: Gerald Gold, Partnership Grants Program, (202) 712-0263; Jeffrey Orrey, Trade and

Investment Program, (202) 712-1608; or view home page: www.ecolinks.org.

Trade and Technical Assistance/U.S. Department of Transportation

The Department of Transportation’s Office of International Transportation and Trade

(X-20) serves as the department’s overseer on collaborative trade-related initiatives

and technical assistance programs. The X-20 office works closely with agencies, such

as the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the Department of Commerce, to organize business workshops designed to help establish relationships and share information between U.S. businesses and foreign officials who are likely to make, or to heavily

influence, awards of international contracts. Under mechanisms such as bilateral and

multilateral agreements, the department’s operating administrations participate in cooperative programs and technology initiatives with partners worldwide, and promote

policies that enhance U.S. industry access to foreign markets.

Contact: Ms. Bernestine Allen, Office of the Secretary of Transportation, (202) 366-4368; 

fax (202) 366-7417; e-mail: bernestine.allen@ost.dot.gov; James A. Treichel, Maritime

Administration, (202) 366-5773; fax (202) 366-3746; e-mail: james.a.treichel@marad.dot.gov;

Lisa Randall, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, (202) 366-6660; fax (202) 366-3640; e-mail:

lisa.randall@bts.dot.gov; Henry Nevares, Federal Highway Administration, (202) 366-0111; 

fax (202) 366-9626; e-mail: henry.nevares@fhwa.dot.gov; Ted Krohn, Federal Railroad

Administration, (202) 493-6415; fax (202) 493-6401; e-mail: ted.krohn@fra.dot.gov; Rita

Daguillard, Federal Transit Administration, (202) 366-0955; fax (202) 366-3765; e-mail:

rita.daguillard@fta.dot.gov; Rochelle Claypolle, Federal Aviation Administration, (202) 267-3111;

fax (202) 267-5047; e-mail: rochelle.claypolle@faa.gov; Julie Abraham, National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, (202) 366-2114; fax (202) 366-2559; e-mail: jabraham@nhtsa.dot.gov;

Timothy Klein, Research and Special Programs Administration, (202) 366-4434; fax (202)

366-3272; e-mail: timothy.klein@rspa.dot.gov.
Office of Fossil Energy/International Programs/U.S. Department of Energy 

This program enhances the competitiveness of U.S. industry by supporting domestic

fossil energy (coal, oil, and gas) project developers and exporters trying to expand the

international sales of fossil energy technology, resources, and services.

Contact: Barbara McKee, director, Coal and Power Export and Import, (301) 903-3820; fax (301)

903-1591; e-mail: barbara.mckee@hq.doe.gov; Donald Juckett, director, Oil and Gas Import and

Export, (202) 586-8830; fax (202) 586-6050; e-mail: donald.juckett@hq.doe.gov; home page:

www.fe.doe.gov.

15
1 6

C h a pt er 3 

Country- Specific Counseling and Assistance

r a d e I nf or m ati o n C e nt er ( TI C)/I T A/ U. S. D e p art m e nt of C o m m er c e 

I C s pecialists pr ovi de ex p ort c o u nseli n g a n d assista nce o n Asi a, West er n E ur o p e,

L ati n A m eric a, Afric a, t h e Ne ar E ast, a n d t he ester n He mis p here, i ncl u di n g t he

N or t h A m eric a n Fre e Tr a d e A gr e e m e nt ( N A F T A). C o u ntr y-s pecific c o u nseli n g is

availa ble at n o c ost o n c o u ntr y c o n diti o ns; c o m mercial la ws, re g ulati o ns, a n d practices;

sta n dar ds; g over n me nt pr oc ure me nt; certificati o n re q uire me nts; distri b uti o n c ha n nels;

b usi ness travel; o p p ort u nities a n d best pr os pects f or U. S. c o m pa nies; tariffs, taxes, a n d

c ust o ms pr oce d ures; c o m mercial diffic ulties e nc o u ntere d i n d oi n g b usi ness a br oa d; a n d

ot her mar ket i nf or mati o n. T he TI C is t he U. S. g over n me nt’s desi g nate d p oi nt of c o ntact f or hel p wit h d oc u me ntati o n t o q ualify f or N A F T A be nefits a n d ot her free-tra de

a gree me nts. T he TI C We b site has exte nsive c o u ntr y a n d re gi o nal i nf or mati o n, i nclu di n g a d o w nl oa da ble N A F T A certificate of ori gi n, a tariff a n d Har m o nize d S yste m

n u m ber l o o k u p t o ol, a n d c o ntact i nf or mati o n o n f orei g n c ust o ms offices a n d tra de offices i n t he U nite d States.

C o nt a ct: TI C staff, 1- 8 0 0- U S A-T R A D(E) ( 1- 8 0 0- 8 7 2- 8 7 2 3); fax ( 2 0 2) 4 8 2- 4 4 7 3; 

e- mail: tic @ita.doc.gov; ho me page: w w w.export.gov/tic.

B usi n ess I nf or m ati o n S er vi c e f or t h e N e wly I n d e p e n d e nt St at es

( BI S NI S)/I T A/ U. S. D e p art m e nt of C o m m er c e 

BI S NI S pr ovi des mar ket i nf or mati o n, practical a dvice, tra de lea d o p p ort u nities, a n d

referrals t o U. S. a n d E urasia n c o m pa nies of all sizes t o facilitate U. S. ex p orts a n d ot her

f or ms of b usi ness devel o p me nt wit h R ussia a n d ot her Ne wly I n de pe n de nt States

( NI S) i n E urasia (t he f or mer S oviet U ni o n). BI S NI S ser vices, free f or U. S. a n d

E urasia n c o m pa nies, i ncl u de:

BI S NI S O nli n e w w w.bis nis. doc.go v ), c o ntai ni n g t he latest mar ket i nf or mati o n,

lea ds, a n d res o urces f or d oi n g b usi ness wit h t he NI S c o u ntries;

E- m ail u p d at es o n t he latest mar ket re p orts a n d lea ds fr o m E urasia;

U. S. ex p ort a n d p art n er l e a ds f or E urasia ( BI S NI S Tra des & Te n ders a n d BI S NI S

Se arc h for Part ners);

BI S NI S Fi n a nc e Li n k, f or U. S. a n d NI S c o m pa nies t hat have a gree d o n a U. S.

ex p ort tra nsacti o n a n d see k fi na nci n g;
ExpoLink Eurasia, a unique Russian-language promotion tool for U.S. companies;

Consultation and guidance for both practical and strategic business development

decisions; and

BISNIS Bulletin, the monthly BISNIS newsletter highlighting commercial developments in Eurasia.

Contact: BISNIS staff, 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) or (202) 482-4655; fax (202) 482-2293; 

e-mail: bisnis@ita.doc.gov; home page: www.bisnis.doc.gov.

Central and Eastern Europe Business Information Center (CEEBIC)/ITA/U.S.

Department of Commerce 

CEEBIC offers a wide array of services, business counseling, and information products primarily designed to help small and medium-sized U.S. firms expand into

Central and Eastern European markets. CEEBIC’s Washington-based trade specialists and overseas staff in 15 countries of the region work together to implement this

unique program. Among CEEBIC’s key products are CEEBICnet, a Web site that

features trade and investment leads, sources of finance, regularly updated market information, and the latest news from the region, including unclassified U.S. embassy

reports; the monthly publication, Central and Eastern Europe Commercial Update; the

weekly e-mail publication, Southeastern Europe Business Brief; and the biweekly e-mail

publication, Central Europe Northern Tier Brief. CEEBIC also has three special programs, the European Union Accession Initiative, to help U.S. firms reap the benefits

of EU accession; the Southeast Europe Initiative, to counsel U.S. companies doing

business in the region; and the Western Romania Initiative, to help U.S. firms uncover significant opportunities there.

Contact: CEEBIC staff, 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) or (202) 482-2645; fax (202) 482-3898; 

EU accession hotline, (202) 482-9090; Southeast Europe hotline, (202) 482-5471; 

home page: www.export.gov/ceebic.

U.S. Embassies and Consulates: U.S. Commercial Service (USCS)/U.S.

Department of Commerce; Foreign Service/U.S. Department of State; Foreign

Agricultural Service (FAS)/U.S Department of Agriculture 

The Commerce Department’s USCS officers support U.S. business interests in

American embassies, consulates, and trade centers in leading export markets. They

collect information about trends and barriers to trade in their representative countries.

USCS officers also identify trade and investment opportunities and assist U.S. firms

with a variety of commercial events and programs, including high-level government

advocacy.

U.S. Department of State staff report extensively on economic developments abroad

and their impact on trade and investment. Foreign Service officers (FSOs) provide

17
18

political and economic briefings and advise U.S. firms on the business culture and

practices of the host country. They advocate on behalf of U.S. business with key ministries in foreign countries. FSOs are responsible for commercial work in 96 embassies

and 36 consulates not covered by the Commercial Service. FSOs work closely with

their Commercial Service colleagues worldwide.

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) maintains more than 60 offices overseas,

mostly located in U.S. embassies, to represent the interests of U.S. agriculture and

carry out market promotion. The FAS also offers assistance to exporters of U.S. farm

and forest products in 20 agricultural trade offices overseas. The FAS supports U.S.

food exporters with marketing and assists them at foreign trade shows. Agricultural

FSOs perform advocacy activities in policy negotiations, monitor and report on market access, and represent individual U.S. exporters in foreign customs disputes.

Contact: For assistance in accessing international programs, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-

872-8723); State Department, (202) 647-4000; Outreach and Exporter Assistance, (202) 720-

7420; AgExport Services Division, (202) 720-7420; Web sites: Commercial Service,

www.export.gov/commercialservice; Department of State, www.state.gov/www/regions_

missions.html; Office of International Information Programs at the U.S. Department of State,

http://usinfo.state.gov; Foreign Agricultural Service, www.fas.usda.gov.

U.S. Commercial Centers/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Commercial Centers located abroad house state export development agencies, industry associations, government agencies, and other strategic partners. The

Commercial Centers represent integrated business networks that leverage resources

and extend the range of public-private support.

Commercial Centers are located in promising emerging markets and commercial

hubs. They are strategically placed in the heart of business districts, close to prospective business partners for U.S. companies. They provide ideal bases for U.S. companies

to track down business leads, negotiate contracts with U.S. government advocacy, gain

perspective on market conditions and local business practices, find and assess reliable

business partners, host receptions for potential business partners, stage technical seminars, launch new products/services, or even set up permanent offices. The direct access

to both Commercial Service staff and programs as well as business facilities (including

fully equipped offices, meeting rooms, exhibit space, etc.) make each Commercial

Center particularly useful to small and medium-sized companies.

◆ U.S. Commercial Center, São Paulo, Brazil

The first U.S. Commercial Center, São Paulo, has built a strong base for expanding public-private partnerships and fostering interagency cooperation.

Contact: Director, U.S. Commercial Center, São Paulo, Brazil, +55 (11) 3897-40-45; 

fax +55 (11) 3061-00-84; home page: www.buyusa.gov/brazil.
◆ U.S. Commercial Center, Shanghai, China 

The Commercial Center in Shanghai, the financial hub of China, positions U.S.

companies to compete in the entire Chinese economic area. The Center houses

state economic development offices for Illinois, Michigan, Washington, and the

city and county of Denver, Colorado; the Association for Manufacturing

Technology; and the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Institute.

Contact: Director, U.S. Commercial Center, Portman Shanghai Center, Suite 631, 1369

Nanjing Road West, Shanghai 200040, China, +86 (21) 6279-7630; fax +86 (21) 6279-

7639; Web sites: www.buyusa.gov/china/en or www.usembassy-china.org.cn/english/

commercial/index.html.

◆ Ronald H. Brown U.S. Commercial Center, Johannesburg, South Africa

Opened in 1998, the Ronald H. Brown Commercial Center houses the

Michigan State trade office in addition to its other services.

Contact: Senior Commercial Officer, Ronald H. Brown Commercial Center, 15 Chaplain

Road, Illovo 2196, Johannesburg, South Africa, +27 (11) 778-4801; fax +27 (11) 442-

8798; home page: www.buyusa.gov/southafrica.

Regional Bureaus/U.S. Department of State 

Country desk officers in regional bureaus in Washington, D.C., maintain regular contact with overseas diplomatic missions and can provide U.S. exporters and investors

with economic and political information from both a country and regional perspective.

Contact: Africa, (202) 647-3502; East Asia and Pacific, (202) 647-6600; Europe, (202) 647-

4174; Russia and the Newly Independent States, (202) 647-3112; Near East and North Africa,

(202) 736-7370; South Asia, (202) 736-4331; Western Hemisphere, (202) 647-4458. Home

page: www.state.gov/www/regions.html.

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20

Chapter 4 

Trade Contact and Market Research

Programs

CUSTOMIZED PROGRAMS

International Partner Search (IPS)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The International Partner Search program provides a custom search that helps identify potential agents, distributors, licensees, and strategic partners. Fees depend on the

scope of work.

Contact: For more information on IPS, contact your local U.S. Department of Commerce Export

Assistance Center (USEAC). For the address and phone number of the USEAC nearest you, call 

1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723), or visit www.export.gov/commercialservice.

Gold Key Service/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The Gold Key Service provides firms planning to visit a country with assistance in developing a sound market strategy, orientation briefings, introductions to pre-screened

potential partners, interpreters for meetings, and effective follow-up planning. Fees

depend on the scope of work.

Contact: For more information on the Gold Key Service, contact your local U.S. Department of

Commerce Export Assistance Center (USEAC). For the address and phone number of the USEAC

nearest you, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723), or visit www.export.gov/

commercialservice.

Platinum Key Service ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The Platinum Key Service offers long-term, custom-made assistance to U.S. companies seeking to enter a market, bid on a contract, identify the best distribution channels, lower a trade barrier, or resolve complex export issues. Fees depend on the scope

of work.

Contact: For more information on the Platinum Key Service, contact your local U.S. Department

of Commerce Export Assistance Center (USEAC). For the address and phone number of the

USEAC nearest you, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723), or visit www.export.gov/

commercialservice.
21

Flexible Market Research (FMR)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The Flexible Market Research program produces custom responses to questions and

issues related to a client’s specific product or service. The research can address issues

such as overall marketability of the product, key competitors, prices of comparable

products, customary distribution and promotion practices, trade barriers, potential

business partners, and more. Fees depend on the scope of work.

Contact: For more information on FMR, contact your local U.S. Department of Commerce Export

Assistance Center (USEAC). For the address and phone number of the USEAC nearest you, call 

1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723), or visit www.export.gov/commercialservice.

International Company Profile (ICP)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The International Company Profile program checks the reputation, reliability, and financial status of a prospective trading partner. A U.S. exporter can obtain this information, and detailed answers to specific questions about the prospective partner, in a

confidential report. Fees depend on the scope of work.

Contact: For more information on the ICP service, contact your local U.S. Department of Commerce

Export Assistance Center (USEAC). For the address and phone number of the USEAC nearest you,

call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723), or visit www.export.gov/commercialservice.

Videoconferencing Programs/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

These cost-effective video services help U.S. companies assess overseas markets or

overseas business contacts before venturing abroad. Companies can use these programs

to interview international contacts, get a briefing from overseas industry specialists on

prospects and opportunities, or develop a custom solution to their international business needs.

◆ Virtual Trade Mission provides meetings with pre-screened international firms

via videoconferencing without the cost of traveling overseas. Virtual Trade Mission

focuses on your specific industry and allows you to meet potential partners and get

answers to your market questions in an interactive videoconference.

◆ Video Gold Key helps firms identify and meet with pre-screened international

firms. This service includes three to five scheduled meetings with potential business partners and an industry briefing with seasoned trade professionals. All meetings take place via videoconference. Prices vary according to location.

◆ Video Market Briefing provides time-sensitive market research for specific products and services. Benefits include a market entry evaluation and written report,

followed by a videoconference with an industry professional so a firm can get immediate answers to market questions. Prices vary according to location.

Contact: For more information on video programs, contact your local U.S. Department of

Commerce Export Assistance Center (USEAC). For the address and phone number of the

USEAC nearest you, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723), or visit www.export.gov/

commercialservice.
22

Commercial News USA/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

Commercial News USA, a catalog containing advertisements of U.S. products, is published monthly by the Commercial Service through its private sector partner, ABP

International, to promote U.S. products and services to more than 400,000 potential

buyers and partners in 145 countries.

Contact: For information on advertising in Commercial News USA, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) 

(1-800-872-8723), or call ABP International at (212) 490-3999; fax (212) 822-2028; home

page: www.cnewsusa.com.

ELECTRONIC MATCHMAKING AND TRADE

CONTACT PROGRAMS

BuyUSA.com/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

BuyUSA.com is a one-stop e-marketplace for small and medium-sized U.S. enterprises

to identify potential international partners and connect with them on-line. Companies

subscribing to BuyUSA.com receive worldwide exposure 24 hours a day, seven days a

week, 365 days per year. BuyUSA.com is the only Web site of its kind to combine an

on-line interface with a worldwide network of international trade specialists.

Contact: For more information on BuyUSA.com, visit www.buyusa.com, or call (866) 855-8666.

MyExportsTM/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

This service enables U.S. firms to present their products to a worldwide audience at

no cost. U.S. firms register their business profiles free at www.myexports.com ®. Foreign

buyers use MyExportsTM as a reference tool to source U.S. goods and services.

MyExportsTM also helps U.S. producers find export partners and locate export companies, freight forwarders, and other service firms that can facilitate export business.

Firms that register with MyExportsTM receive a free on-line listing and a free listing in

the annual U.S. Department of Commerce-U.S. Exporters’ Yellow PagesTM print buyers’

guide. The guide is distributed nationwide through the Commerce Department’s

Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) and through U.S. embassies and consulates.

Hyperlink, display advertising, and other export facilitation services are available from

MyExportsTM for a small fee. MyExportsTM is coordinated by the ITA Office of

Export Trading Company Affairs and produced by its private sector partner, Global

Publishers LLC.

Contact: For more information on MyExportsTM, visit www.myexports.com, or call (877) 

390-2629. To receive a free copy of the print buyers’ guide and information on other export programs, contact your local USEAC. For the USEAC closest to you, call 1-800-USA-TRADE, or visit

www.export.gov/commercialservice.
23

Global Trade and Technology Network (GTN)/U.S. Agency for International

Development (USAID)

GTN assists U.S. firms in identifying trade and technology transfer opportunities by

engaging small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries in global, regional, and local trade and by helping them obtain technology. GTN is located in

about 40 developing countries worldwide, works with over 35 state trade offices in the

United States and with industry associations, and works closely with many U.S. government organizations, including the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial

Service, Ex-Im Bank, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. The GTN

network is accessible at no cost to firms.

Contact: GTN, (202) 628-9750; fax (202) 628-9740; home page: www.usgtn.net.

Environmental Technology Network for Asia and the Americas (ETNA)/U.S.

Agency for International Development (USAID)

ETNA is a U.S. government-sponsored program that collects environmental trade

leads from the Asia-Pacific region and disseminates them to U.S. environmental technology and services firms. Established in 1993, ETNA is an initiative of the United

States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP) and the Global Trade and

Technology Network (GTN). US-AEP has placed environmental technology representatives in six Asian countries to identify trade opportunities for U.S. companies and

coordinate meetings between potential Asian and U.S. business partners. These environmental trade specialists meet regularly with decision makers in industry and government in order to prepare trade leads that identify Asian buyers, environmental concerns, and proposed technology solutions. These leads are forwarded to ETNA, where

they are matched against a database of over 5,000 registered U.S. companies, and then

e-mailed to those companies that provide the requested product or service.

Contact: ETNA, (202) 835-0333; fax (202) 835-0446; e-mail: etna@usaep.org; home page:

www.usgtn.net.

Trade Mission OnLine/Small Business Administration (SBA) 

Trade Mission OnLine is a searchable database of U.S. small businesses that wish to

export their products for use by foreign firms and U.S. businesses seeking U.S. partners or suppliers for trade-related activity. The database is designed to facilitate international small business sales, franchising, joint ventures, and licensing. The Trade

Mission OnLine program is also used by the SBA to recruit for foreign trade missions

and to provide time-sensitive trade leads to registered companies.

Contact: Find out more about or register with Trade Mission OnLine at www.sba.gov/tmonline, or

contact the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of International Trade, (202) 205-6720; fax

(202) 205-7272; Web site: www.sba.gov/oit.
24

ELECTRONIC AND PUBLISHED MARKET

INFORMATION

Export.gov 

This interagency trade portal brings together U.S. government export-related information under one easy-to-use Web site, organized according to the needs of the exporter.

Whether a company is exploring the possibility of doing international business,

searching for trade partners, seeking information on markets, or dealing with trade

problems, this Web site can help. Additionally, the site has links to information from

many U.S. government offices on advocacy, trade events, trade statistics, tariffs and

taxes, market research, NAFTA Rules of Origin, export documentation, financing export transactions, and much more.

Contact: www.export.gov.

Trade and Economic Analysis/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

Comprehensive U.S. foreign trade and related international economic data, useful in

market research and evaluating trends in U.S. exports and imports by major product

categories and foreign markets, are provided by the Office of Trade and Economic

Analysis (OTEA). OTEA serves as a coordinating unit for advocating U.S. industry

positions related to U.S. trade negotiation initiatives. The OTEA Web site includes

national trade and industry statistics, state and local trade data, and links to key foreign country data sources.

Contact: Jeffrey Lins, (202) 482-5145; fax (202) 482-4614; e-mail: jeffrey_lins@ita.doc.gov;

home page: www.trade.gov/tradestats.

STAT-USA Electronic Information Products/U.S. Department of Commerce

STAT-USA is the federal government’s premier program for the publication of market

information, trade leads, and other trade-related data, including the following electronic products:

National Trade Data Bank (NTDB)

The NTDB is a one-stop source for export promotion and international trade data

collected by more than 40 U.S. government agencies. The NTDB enables the user

to view more than 200,000 trade-related documents. The NTDB contains: (1) the

complete set of Country Commercial Guides; (2) current market research reports

compiled by the Commercial Service; (3) State Department country reports on
25

economic policies and trade practices; (4) trade publications; and (5) the export

promotion calendar. The NTDB is available as part of STAT-USA/Internet.

Subscriptions to STAT-USA/Internet are $75 for three months or $175 for a year

of unlimited access. STAT-USA/Internet can be accessed at no charge at over

1,100 federal depository libraries nationwide.

Contact: For ordering and specific information, call (202) 482-1986 or 1-800-STAT-USA 

(1-800-782-8872); fax (202) 482-2164. To find a federal depository library near you, view

www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/locators/findlibs/index.html or call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) 

(1-800-872-8723).

STAT-USA/Internet 

Trade, economic, and business information is available on the Internet at

www.stat-usa.gov. The National Trade Data Bank (NTDB) and the former

Economic Bulletin Board are on-line, easy to navigate, and accessible 24 hours a

day, seven days a week. The NTDB has market research reports, agricultural and

business trade leads, and U.S. government procurement opportunities.

Subscriptions to STAT-USA/Internet are $75 for three months or $175 for a year

of unlimited access. STAT-USA/Internet can be accessed at no charge at over

1,100 federal depository libraries nationwide.

Contact: Call 1-800-STAT-USA (1-800-782-8872) or (202) 482-1986; fax (202) 482-

2164; or subscribe on-line at www.stat-usa.gov. To find a federal depository library near you,

view www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/locators/findlibs/index.html or call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E)

(1-800-872-8723).

USA Trade Online

How many parachutes does the United States export to France? How many circuit

boards does the United States import and what percentage comes from Asia? USA

Trade Online can tell you. This service provides U.S. import and export statistics

for over 18,000 commodities traded worldwide and the most current merchandise

trade statistics available in a dynamic spreadsheet format. Using the statistics generated by the Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Census Bureau and available

through STAT-USA, USA Trade Online offers immediate delivery of the current

numbers 24 hours a day and the ability to store queries. USA Trade Online is

available via the Internet at $75 per month or $300 for an annual subscription.

Contact: Call 1-800-STAT-USA (1-800-782-8872) or (202) 482-1986; fax (202) 482-2164;

or subscribe on-line at www.usatradeonline.gov.
26

EuroTrade Online

Looking for import and export statistics to help you analyze the European market?

Check out EuroTrade Online, the official European foreign trade statistics from

Europe’s authoritative statistical agency, EuroStat, in a dynamic new format previously unavailable to the American business community. EuroTrade Online allows

you to access the European Union’s ComExt (Commerce Extérieur) data series.

You will find import and export data for each of the 15 major European countries

and over 12,000 commodities up to the eight-digit European Harmonized System

classification level. EuroTrade Online is available via the Internet through STATUSA at $350 per month or $1,000 for an annual subscription.

Contact: Call 1-800-STAT-USA (1-800-782-8872) or (202) 482-1986; fax (202) 482-2164;

or subscribe on-line at www.eurotradeonline.gov.

Trade Opportunity Program (TOP)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

The Trade Opportunity program provides companies with current sales leads from international firms seeking to buy or represent their products and services. TOP leads

are accessible through STAT-USA as a component of the subscription service or free

of charge at a federal depository library near you. TOP leads are also printed weekly in

leading commercial newspapers.

Contact: For more information on TOP, visit the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial

Service home page at www.export.gov/commercialservice, or for STAT-USA/Internet subscription

information, call 1-800-STAT-USA (1-800-782-8872) or (202) 482-1986; fax (202) 482-2164;

home page: www.stat-usa.gov.

International Market Insights (IMIs)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

International Market Insights report on current conditions in specific country markets

and identify upcoming opportunities for generating sales.

Contact: Valerie Evans, (202) 482-1192; fax (202) 482-0950; home page: www.export.gov and

select “Market Research.”

Country Commercial Guides (CCGs)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

Country Commercial Guides provide overviews for doing business in more than 120

countries, including market conditions, best export prospects, export financing, finding

distributors, and legal and cultural issues.

Contact: Valerie Evans, product manager, (202) 482-1192; home page: www.export.gov and select “Market Research.”
27

Export America/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

The official magazine of the International Trade Administration (ITA) in the U.S.

Department of Commerce, Export America, is an especially valuable resource for small

and medium-sized companies interested in exporting. Each month, Export America

draws on the resources of the ITA and other government agencies to feature regional

developments, country- and industry-specific opportunities, trade events, technical advice, on-line marketing tips, and export statistics. Many articles focus on the needs of

small and new-to-export firms, and include information on technical topics, such as

export documentation and market research. With its combination of feature stories

and hands-on guidance, Export America is an essential publication for any firm looking

to enter or expand in the global marketplace.

Contact: For subscription information, contact the Government Printing Office at (866) 512-

1800 (in the District of Columbia, (202) 512-1800), or visit the Export America home page at

http://exportamerica.doc.gov. For all other comments or questions about the magazine, contact

the editorial office of Export America at (202) 482-3809; fax (202) 482-5819; or e-mail:

export_america@ita.doc.gov.

Webcast Library/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

This series of on-line video seminars and briefings covers current international business topics, from tips on exporting health care products to Argentina to selling globally via the Internet.

Contact: Go to the Webcast Library from the “Market Research” link on the Commercial Service

Web site: www.export.gov/commercialservice.

National Technical Information Service (NTIS)/U.S. Department of Commerce 

NTIS is the official source for government-sponsored U.S. and global scientific, technical, engineering, and business information. NTIS offers a wide variety of export and

international trade resources, including the official Export Administration Regulations

Manual and Country Commercial Guides.

Contact: NTIS Sales Desk, 1-800-553-NTIS (1-800-553-6847) or (703) 605-6000; home page:

www.ntis.gov.

International Data Base/U.S. Census Bureau/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The International Programs Center compiles and maintains up-to-date global demographic and social information for all countries in its International Data Base (IDB),

which is available to U.S. companies seeking to identify potential markets overseas.

Contact: Peter Johnson or Pat Dickerson, Information Resources Branch, (301) 763-1351; fax

(301) 457-1539; e-mail: idb@census.gov. Information about the IDB, including on-line access

and free downloading, is available on the Internet at: www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbnew.html.
28

Export and Import Trade Database/U.S. Census Bureau/U.S. Department of

Commerce

This database contains U.S. export and import statistics and tracks statistics by mode

of transportation and district of entry or exit. Various levels of commodity classification, including the Harmonized System of Commodity Classification, Standard

International Trade Classification, North American Industry Classification System,

and end-use classification are available. Tabulations, reports, and data files can be prepared to user specifications. Prices vary depending upon user requirements and job

size. Export and import databases can also be purchased on CD-ROM at a price of

$1,200 a year, $500 a quarter, or $150 a month. An extract of the export and import

databases is also available on-line at www.usatradeonline.gov.

Contact: Nick Orsini, Data Dissemination Branch, (301) 763-2311; fax (301) 457-4615; e-mail:

nick.orsini@census.gov. Contact Census Customer Service at (301) 763-4636 for CD-ROMs, or

visit the Foreign Trade Division’s home page: www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www.

SBA Internet/Small Business Administration (SBA) 

The SBA home page provides SBA services, downloadable files, plus services from

agency resource partners, links to other federal and state governments, and direct connections to additional outside resources. Special areas of interest focus on assisting

U.S. companies that are setting up an operation, seeking financing, looking to expand,

and beginning to engage in exporting. The SBA home page also contains information

on SBA programs that assist minority- and women-owned businesses. In addition,

large libraries of business-focused shareware, downloadable SBA loan forms, and

agency publications are available. A wide variety of services listed by state is provided,

including local training courses sponsored by the SBA. On-line workshops are offered

for individuals to work through self-paced activities that help them start and expand

their businesses. In addition, the home page links directly to the White House home

page and the U.S. Business Advisor, which houses a large volume of regulatory information for small businesses. The SBA site provides full-text search capabilities as well

as an area for user comments and suggestions.

Contact: SBA Help Desk, (202) 205-6400; home page: www.sba.gov.

Foreign Labor Trends/U.S. Department of Labor 

Foreign Labor Trends is a series of annual reports that describe and analyze labor trends

in several countries. The reports cover key labor indicators, including a description of

the labor scene, the economy and labor, investment, labor law and systems, labor standards and worker rights, the social safety net, and a directory of labor organizations.

Contact: Sudha Haley, Office of Foreign Relations, (202) 693-4801; fax (202) 693-4784.
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Chapter 5

Making Contacts through Trade Promotion

Events

DOMESTIC TRADE PROMOTION EVENTS

International Buyer Program (IBP)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The International Buyer Program brings thousands of qualified international buyers

and prospective distributors and trade partners to the United States each year to meet

with U.S. companies at 28 major trade-only exhibitions. Without having to leave the

country, U.S. exhibitors obtain worldwide promotion of their products and services

and networking/matchmaking programs by country and industry experts.

Contact: Jim Boney, Export Promotion Services, (202) 482-0146; fax (202) 482-0872; e-mail:

jim.boney@mail.doc.gov; home page: www.export.gov.

Trade Show Outreach Program/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The Office of Export Assistance and Business Outreach (OEABO) provides free,

on-the-spot export counseling services to attendees and exhibitors at 10 to 20 domestic industry exhibitions and conferences per year through OEABO’s traveling Trade

Information Center exhibit. The mix of industry exhibitions covered varies from year

to year.

Contact: Trade Information Center, 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723); fax (202) 482-

4473; e-mail: tic@ita.doc.gov; home page: www.export.gov/tic.

ShowTime Program/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

ShowTime provides market briefing and counseling at major trade shows through a

team of market and industry specialists from the U.S. Commercial Service. Technical

assistance focuses on identifying specific high-potential export markets for U.S. participants. There is no fee for U.S. trade event participants.

Contact: For more information on ShowTime, contact your local U.S. Export Assistance Center

(USEAC). For the address and phone number of the USEAC nearest you, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E)

(1-800-872-8723), or visit www.export.gov/commercialservice.
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Orientation Visits (Reverse Trade Missions)/U.S. Trade and Development

Agency (TDA) 

The TDA funds visits to the United States by high-level foreign government officials

to meet with U.S. industry and government representatives. These foreign officials

represent procurement authorities interested in purchasing U.S. products and services

for specific projects. U.S. industry will sometimes share in the cost of these missions.

Contact: TDA Information Resource Center, (703) 875-4357; fax (703) 875-4009; e-mail:

info@tda.gov; home page: www.tda.gov.

FOREIGN TRADE PROMOTION EVENTS

Trade Fairs and Exhibitions/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The Commerce Department sponsors U.S. pavilions in as many as 100 carefully selected worldwide trade fairs annually. Fees depend upon the country. Exhibitors receive pre- and post-event logistical and transportation support, as well as extensive

market promotional campaigns to attract appropriate business audiences. In addition,

U.S. embassies make every effort to assure that U.S. firms’ individual goals are met.

Contact: For information on trade shows selected by the Commerce Department and a listing of

trade events, call the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723), or view

the trade events calendar on-line: www.export.gov/tradeevents.html.

Overseas Trade Fair Certification/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

Each year the Commerce Department certifies a variety of private trade show organizers to recruit and manage U.S. pavilions at approximately 100 trade fairs worldwide.

These private-public cooperative arrangements allow the organizers and the

Commerce Department to combine and focus their resources and expertise on each

event. Certification ensures participation standards, provides a high visibility U.S.

pavilion at each exhibit, assures U.S. firms that each event is a carefully developed opportunity to promote their export sales, provides exhibitors with complete Commercial

Service support from U.S. embassies, and encourages new-to-export and new-to-market participation.

Contact: Don Huber, Export Promotion Services, (202) 482-2525; fax (202) 482-0115; home

page: www.usatrade.gov/tfc.

Trade Missions/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

Trade missions are an essential element of a broad-based public program designed to

increase job opportunities for all Americans. Commerce Department trade missions

have mission statements, goals, criteria for participation, and contact people. Trade

missions may be undertaken for different purposes:
◆ Commercial missions seek to produce near-term export sales of U.S. goods and

services from participating firms that travel as a group to one or more foreign markets. Appointments are made with officials and prospective business partners and

customers. Commercial missions are organized for individual sectors or multiple

industries and may include a range of companies. Some missions are planned

specifically for small and medium-sized firms or minority- and women-owned

businesses.

◆ Market access missions seek to create commercial opportunities through the removal of trade barriers and opening of markets for U.S. businesses that have been

closed out of such opportunities.

◆ Policy missions seek to advance U.S. bilateral or multilateral objectives across a

range of issues, with the objective of enhancing overall bilateral or multilateral economic and political relations. This category includes missions designed to promote

political stability in a foreign country or region by fostering U.S. investment and

trade.

◆ Combined missions embody aspects of two or more of the above types.

◆ Certified Trade Missions are organized by state and private-sector trade promotion groups and supported by the Commerce Department. States, industry associations, and other groups should apply directly to a Department of Commerce overseas post to have their mission certified.

Contact: To find information on all missions, visit the trade events calendar at

www.export.gov/tradeevents.html.

Product Literature and Sample Displays and International Catalog Exhibition

Program/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

These are low-cost, efficient ways for small and medium-sized firms to get exposure

and worldwide sales leads without leaving the country. The Product Literature and

Sample Displays are industry-focused exhibits at trade shows where Commerce

Department industry or trade specialists or U.S. embassy officials display U.S. company literature and samples to hundreds of interested business prospects. Sales leads

are sent directly to participating companies. At International Catalog Exhibitions,

state development agencies collaborate with the Commerce Department to showcase

product literature from companies in their state and send trade leads to the participating U.S. firms.

Contact: For more information on Product Literature and Sample Displays, contact the Trade

Information Center (TIC) at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723). For more information on the

International Catalog Exhibition program, contact Nancy Hesser, Export Promotion Services, (202)

482-4663; fax (202) 482-2718; home page: www.export.gov/tradeevents.html.

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32

Chapter 6

Special Market Access and Technical

Assistance

Advocacy Center/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

For U.S. companies bidding on foreign government procurement contracts, exporting

means more than just selling a good product at a competitive price. It also means

dealing with foreign governments and complex rules. If the bidding process for a contract is not open and transparent or is tilted in favor of foreign competition, then contact the Advocacy Center. The Advocacy Center coordinates the actions of 19 U.S.

government agencies to level the playing field overseas for U.S. exporters and to ensure that sales of U.S. products and services have the best possible prospects abroad.

The Advocacy Center works with businesses of every size, providing assistance that

may include visits to key foreign officials by high-ranking U.S. officials, direct support

from U.S. officials stationed overseas, letters to foreign decision-makers, and coordinated action by U.S. government agencies.

Contact: For more information, call (202) 482-3896; fax (202) 482-3508; home page:

www.trade.gov/td/advocacy.

Market Access and Compliance (MAC)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The MAC unit works to open foreign markets for American goods and services,

country by country and region by region, by working with U.S. exporters to overcome

foreign trade barriers and develop strategies to level the playing field. MAC specialists

maintain in-depth knowledge of the trade policies and practices of our trading partners. Working hand-in-hand with U.S. business, trade associations, and other U.S.

government offices, MAC country and regional experts develop information needed to

conduct trade negotiations, monitor foreign country compliance with trade agreements, and ensure that U.S. firms know how to use market opening agreements.

Contact: For appropriate contacts in MAC offices, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723);

home page: www.mac.doc.gov.

Trade Compliance Center (TCC)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The TCC ensures vigorous enforcement of existing U.S. international trade agreements. The TCC is a one-stop shop for U.S. businesses and industries concerned with

foreign compliance with trade obligations, standards of behavior, or related problems

with exporting. The TCC monitors, investigates, and evaluates foreign compliance

with multilateral and bilateral trade agreements.
The TCC has the U.S. government’s only comprehensive, free, and searchable Internet

database of trade agreements and market-specific export information. This Web site

assists new and experienced exporters in understanding their rights and their trading

partners’ obligations, as found in over 300 trade agreements (including the World

Trade Organization agreements and NAFTA). The Web site also provides direct access to the TCC through its “trade complaint hotline.” One e-mail or fax to the TCC

connects you to U.S. government trade policy assistance in resolving market access and

trade agreement-related difficulties.

Contact: Trade Compliance Center, (202) 482-1191, fax (202) 482-6097; home page: www.

export.gov/tcc.

ATA Carnet/U.S. Customs Service/U.S. Department of the Treasury 

The ATA Carnet is a special international customs document that may be used for

temporary imports/exports, particularly professional equipment and commercial samples that are sent out of the country for less than one year. The carnet is issued in lieu

of the usual customs documents and eliminates value-added taxes, duties, and temporary import bonds. Sixty-three participating countries accept the carnet as a guarantee

against the payment of customs duties.

Contact: 1-800-CARNETS, 1-800-5DUTYFREE; Dennis Sequeira, International Organizations and

Agreements Division, (202) 927-1480; fax (202) 927-6897; e-mail: atacarnet@uscib.org; home

page: www.uscib.org.

Export Trade Certificate of Review Program/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

Under this program, U.S. firms can team up to gain economies of scale and share export costs and risks. The Certificate of Review offers antitrust pre-clearance on virtually any export activity, including joint negotiation with providers of export services;

agreements to avoid rivalry in export markets; joint bidding; coordination of export

prices; and cost sharing on developing or expanding new export markets. This program provides firms with virtual immunity from antitrust liability at state and federal

levels, and significantly reduces their antitrust exposure at the private level.

Contact: Office of Export Trading Company Affairs, (202) 482-5131; home page: www.ita.doc.

gov/oetca. To locate prospective U.S. export partners and export service firms, log on to www.

myexports.com.

Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 

USTR staff can provide information to exporters confronted with problems involving

the implementation of international trade agreements. Offices are organized according

to sectoral, functional, and geographic responsibilities.

Contact: James Murphy, Agricultural Affairs, (202) 395-6127; Florizelle Liser, Office of Industry,

(202) 395-5656; Joseph Papovich, Services, Investment, and Intellectual Property Rights, (202)

395-4510; David Spooner, Office of Textiles, (202) 395-3026; Daniel Brinza, Monitoring and

Enforcement, (202) 395-3582; fax for all offices (202) 395-3911; home page: www.ustr.gov.

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34

Section 301 Relief/Office of the General Counsel/Office of the United States

Trade Representative (USTR)

The USTR is responsible for administering trade cases that provide relief from unfair

trade practices under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Individual exporters

should contact the USTR concerning procedures for filing a complaint and defending

U.S. interests and rights through the dispute settlement procedures of the World

Trade Organization.

Contact: Daniel Brinza, assistant U.S. trade representative for monitoring and enforcement,

(202) 395-3582; William Busis, chairman, Section 301 Committee, (202) 395-3150; fax (202)

395-3639.

National Center for Standards and Certification Information/National Institute

of Standards and Technology (NIST) Technology Administration/U.S.

Department of Commerce 

The center provides information about foreign standards, technical regulations, and

certification requirements. In addition, the center operates a service called Export

Alert!, which enables interested parties to receive automatic e-mail notifications of

drafts of (or changes to) foreign regulations for a specific industry sector and/or country. The NIST also assists U.S. exporters in identifying EU standards and directives

for products to be marketed to the European Union. Information is provided on draft

standards of the European Committee for Standardization and the European

Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization.

Contact: National Center for Standards and Certification Information, (301) 975-4040; fax (301)

926-1559; e-mail: ncsci@nist.gov; home page: www.ts.nist.gov/ncsci. Individuals may register

for Export Alert! at http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/ncsci/export-alert.htm.

Laws and Metric Group/National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST)/Technology Administration/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The Laws and Metric group provides guidance related to packaging and labeling requirements, net content requirements, and the use of the metric system of measurement with the goal to make U.S. packaged goods more competitive in the export market. The Group also furnishes sources of information on metric standards and

requirements in export markets.

Contact: Kenneth S. Butcher, Group Leader, Laws and Metric Group, (301) 975-4859; fax (301)

948-1416; e-mail: metric_prg@nist.gov, home page: www.nist.gov/metric.
Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs/U.S. Department of State 

The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs integrates high-level economic expertise-in areas such as international trade policy, finance, telecommunications and information technology, energy and sanctions, international transportation issues, agriculture, and intellectual property rights-with up-to-date information about economic and

other developments around the world to advance U.S. interests. The Office of

Commercial and Business Affairs works directly with U.S. business representatives to

help them tap into the worldwide resources of the State Department. It also champions U.S. business interests overseas with advocacy, troubleshooting, and market access

support, and engages business leaders on strategic international issues that affect them.

Contact: Office of Commercial and Business Affairs, (202) 647-1625; fax (202) 647-3953;

home page: www.state.gov/www/about_state/business. Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs

home page: www.state.gov/www/issues/economic/index.html.

Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization/Minority Resource

Center (OSDBU/MRC)/U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) 

U.S. small businesses and disadvantaged enterprises (including women-owned small

businesses) have an advocate that ensures their consideration as sources for the procurement of goods and services financed through USAID sustainable development activities. The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization maintains the

USAID Consultant Registry Information System and publishes The Guide to Doing

Business with the Agency for International Development.

Contact: Marilyn Marton, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, (202) 

712-1500; fax (202) 216-3056; home page: www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/osdbu.

Management and Technical Assistance/Office of Minority Enterprise

Development/Small Business Administration (SBA)

Through the Management and Technical Assistance Program, the SBA contracts for

the services of professional management firms and others to provide help to 8(a) and

other eligible firms in the areas of accounting, marketing, proposal preparation, and

industry-specific issues.

Contact: Additional information may be obtained from a business opportunity specialist 

in the SBA’s district offices. For the phone and fax numbers of your nearest SBA district office,

call 1-800-U-ASK-SBA (1-800-827-5722); home page: www.sba.gov/8abd.

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Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)/U.S. Department of State 

The OSAC is a joint venture between the State Department and the U.S. private sector to interact on overseas security problems, such as political unrest, crime, terrorism,

and the protection of information. The OSAC develops efficient and cost-effective security information and communication, which is available to U.S. businesses with

overseas interests. The Web site provides comprehensive and timely security-related

and country-specific information. The OSAC establishes a continuing liaison between

security officials in both private and public sectors, provides for regular exchanges of

information on developments in protective security, and recommends methods for

planning and implementation of security programs abroad and to protect the competitiveness of American businesses operating worldwide. The OSAC also works closely

with U.S. embassies and consulates to expedite contacts between U.S. business representatives and State Department security officers.

Contact: OSAC, (202) 663-0533; fax (202) 663-0868; e-mail: osac@dsmail.state.gov; home

page: www.ds-osac.org.

Business Briefings, Conferences, and Technical Symposia/U.S. Trade and

Development Agency (TDA) 

The TDA sponsors a variety of briefings and conferences designed to help U.S. firms

learn about business opportunities related to major projects in developing and middleincome countries. The TDA identifies a group of projects in a country, region, or sector and engages project sponsors to conduct project briefings and meet one-on-one

with U.S. companies. An international finance panel is included at most of these

events. At major conferences, participants receive project resource guides, detailing

each of the featured projects, complete with contact information, timelines for project

implementation, and procurement lists.

Contact: TDA Information Resource Center, (703) 875-4357; fax (703) 875-4009; e-mail:

info@tda.gov; home page: www.tda.gov.
Chapter 7 

Export Finance, Insurance, and Grants (NonAgricultural)

EXPORT FINANCE

Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) 

The Ex-Im Bank provides a variety of export finance assistance, including export

credit insurance, pre-export financing through working capital guaranteed loans to exporters, and medium- and long-term loans and guarantees to overseas buyers. The ExIm Bank offers various programs to the business community, including regular seminars and group briefings at several locations around the country. Specific Ex-Im Bank

programs are described below.

Contact: For information on all Ex-Im Bank programs, call the export financing hotline at 1-800-

565-EXIM (3946), (202) 565-3946 (Alaska, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia); fax retrieval:

1-800-565-EXIM, press 1, press 2; e-mail: bdd@exim.gov; home page: www.exim.gov.

City-State Program/Export-Import Bank

The Ex-Im Bank works with state and local government agencies to offer 

export counseling and financial assistance to businesses in their jurisdictions. Cooperative programs currently operate in more than 35 states and regions as well as 

in Puerto Rico.

Contact: Gus Grace, business development officer, (202) 565-3910; fax (202) 565-3932.

Regional Offices/Export-Import Bank 

The Ex-Im Bank’s regional offices provide services and information to businesses.

Regional offices are in New York; Washington, D.C.; Miami; Chicago; Houston;

Orange County, Calif.; Long Beach, Calif.; and San Francisco. The Ex-Im Bank is

also represented at most of the U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs).

Contact: New York: 20 Exchange Place, 40/F, New York, NY 10005, (212) 809-2650; fax (212)

809-2646; Washington, D.C.: 811 Vermont Ave., NW, Room 929, Washington, DC 20571, (202)

565-3900; fax (202) 565-3931; Miami: 777 N.W. 72nd Ave., Suite 3M2, Miami, FL 33126,

(305) 526-7436; fax (305) 526-7435; Chicago: 55 W. Monroe Street, Suite 2440, Chicago, IL

60603, (312) 353-8081; fax (312) 353-8098; Houston: 1880 South Dairy, Ashford II, Suite 585,

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Houston, TX 77077, (281) 721-0465; fax (281) 679-0156; Orange County, Calif.: 3300 Irvine

Avenue, Suite 305, Newport Beach, CA 92660, (949) 660-1688 ext. 150; fax (949) 660-8039;

Long Beach, Calif.: 1 World Trade Center, Suite 1670, Long Beach, CA 90831, (562) 980-4580;

fax (562) 980-4590; San Francisco: 250 Montgomery Street, 14th floor, San Francisco, CA,

94104, (415) 705-2285; fax (415) 705-1156. For the addresses and phone numbers of USEACs,

call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723) or view www.export.gov/commercialservice.

Working Capital Guarantee Program/Export-Import Bank 

The Working Capital Guarantee Program helps small and medium-sized businesses

obtain critical pre-export financing from commercial lenders. The Ex-Im Bank

guarantees 90 percent of the principal and interest on transaction-specific loans or revolving lines of credit that are extended to eligible exporters. The funds may be used

for pre-export activities, which include the purchase of raw materials, labor, overhead,

performance bonds, retainers, and warranties. The Ex-Im Bank processes loan

amounts of over $833,333, while lower amounts go to the Small Business

Administration.

Contact: Sam Zytcer, (202) 565-3782; fax (202) 565-3793; home page: www.exim.gov; or

contact an Ex-Im Bank regional office.

Export Credit Insurance/Export-Import Bank 

The Ex-Im Bank offers insurance policies that cover political and commercial risks on

export receivables.

• The Small Business Policy is available to firms just beginning to export or with

average annual export credit sales of less than $3 million for the past two years.

These businesses must also meet the Small Business Administration’s definition of

a small business. The policy offers enhanced coverage, a lower premium than usually found in other insurance policies, and an enhanced assignment used to discount receivables with a bank. Special features are also available for exporters of

environmental goods and services.

◆ The Bank Letter of Credit Policy insures commercial banks against loss on irrevocable letters of credit issued by foreign banks for U.S. exporters.

◆ The Multi-Buyer Policy insures all of an exporter’s short-term export credit sales

or a reasonable spread.

◆ The Financial Institution Buyer Credit Policy insures individual short-term export

credits extended by financial institutions to foreign buyers.

◆ The Short-Term Single-Buyer Policy and the Medium-Term Single-Buyer Policy

allow exporters to insure their receivables against loss due to commercial and specified political risks on a selective basis.
◆ Lease Insurance Policies offer a lessor the opportunity to expand its overseas

leasing program by providing comprehensive insurance for both the stream of lease

payments and the fair market value of the leased products.

Contact: Business Development, (202) 565-3900; fax (202) 565-3931; home page:

www.exim.gov; or contact an Ex-Im Bank regional office.

Direct Loans and Guarantees/Export-Import Bank

This program extends direct loans to foreign buyers or guarantees to financing intermediaries for creditworthy entities that purchase U.S. capital goods or services. The

loans and guarantees offered are for 85 percent of the U.S. export value. Direct loans

provide competitive fixed-rate financing to the foreign buyer. The guarantee coverage

provides protection to the finance source against payment default for either political or

commercial reasons. Interest rates for the guarantees are negotiated between the finance source and the seller and are typically floating rates. Political-only guarantee

coverage is also available. In addition, the Ex-Im Bank is willing to provide support

for a broad range of environmental exports, including special transaction structures for

certain lease transactions, industrial design, architectural or engineering services, and

overseas operations and maintenance contracts.

Contact: Business Development, (202) 565-3900; fax (202) 565-3931; home page:

www.exim.gov; or contact an Ex-Im Bank regional office.

Limited Recourse Project Finance Program/Export-Import Bank 

The Limited Recourse Project Finance Program provides financing for projects that

are dependent on the cash flows of the project for repayment, not on recourse to a foreign government, financial institution, or established corporation. Combinations of direct loans, political risk only coverage, or comprehensive guarantees for commercial

bank loans are available. The Ex-Im Bank now offers pre-completion comprehensive

coverage for select projects. Ex-Im Bank offerings include financing up to 85 percent

of the U.S. export value, financing of interest during construction, and financing of

host country local costs of up to 15 percent of the U.S. contract value and up to the

maximum repayment terms consistent with the guidelines of the Organization for

Economic Cooperation and Development.

Contact: Kristine Wood, (202) 565-3913; fax (202) 565-3695; home page: www.exim.gov.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA finances the short-term and cyclical working-capital needs of small businesses and administers business loan programs to help qualified small businesses

obtain financing. The financing programs and appropriate contacts listed below can

help exporters.

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Business Loan Guarantee Program/Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA’s 7(a) program assists qualified small businesses to obtain financial assistance

from banks. The Business Loan Guarantee Program provides the lender with a guarantee that if the borrower cannot repay the loan, the federal government will repay the

loan up to the percentage of the SBA guarantee. Therefore, when a business applies

for an SBA loan, it is applying for a commercial loan with an SBA guarantee.

The SBA can make 7(a) loans to businesses engaged in manufacturing, construction,

wholesale, retail, or service industries, and the proceeds may be used to acquire equipment, facilities, machinery, supplies, or materials; to obtain working capital; to finance

construction, conversion, or expansion; and to refinance existing debt.

The maximum dollar amount that the SBA will guarantee is $1,000,000. The maximum maturity is 25 years; however, the SBA expects all loans to be repaid as soon as

possible. Therefore, maturity is based on the ability of the business to pay without

hardship. Interest rates on SBA guarantee loans are negotiated between the applicant

and the lender based on the credit merits of the request, subject to a maximum of the

prime rate plus 2.75 percent.

Contact: 1-800-U-ASK-SBA for the nearest SBA district office or U.S. Export Assistance Center

for application and processing, or view www.sba.gov/financing.

Export Working Capital Program (EWCP)/Small Business Administration (SBA)

The EWCP provides short-term, transaction-specific financing for small business exporters. Exporters may use this program for pre-export financing of labor and materials, financing receivables generated from these sales, and standby letters of credit used

as performance bonds or payment guarantees to foreign buyers. The EWCP provides

90 percent guarantees up to $1 million to commercial lenders and offers exporters preliminary commitments that encourage lenders to provide credit to small business exporters. To qualify for the EWCP, the small business must be established for at least

one year, though not necessarily engaged in exporting. Interest rates and fees are negotiable between the lender and the small business exporter.

Contact: 1-800-U-ASK-SBA for the nearest SBA district office or U.S. Export Assistance Center,

or view www.sba.gov/oit.

International Trade Loan Guarantee Program/Small Business Administration

(SBA)

The International Trade Loan Guarantee Program helps small businesses that are either new to export, already engaged in exporting and seeking to expand their operation, or adversely affected by competition from imports. The SBA guarantees up to

$1.25 million, less the amount of the SBA’s guaranteed portion of other loans outstanding, to the borrower under the SBA’s regular lending program. Loans are made
by lending institutions backed by the SBA guarantee of a portion of the loan.

Proceeds may be used for working capital and facilities or equipment. Maturities of

loans for facilities or equipment may extend to the 25-year maximum.

Contact: 1-800-U-ASK-SBA for the nearest SBA district office or U.S. Export Assistance Center,

or view www.sba.gov/oit.

Export Express/Small Business Administration (SBA)

Export Express is the newest and easiest SBA export loan program. Export Express

provides lenders with a repayment guaranty on their small business export loans up to

a maximum loan amount of $250,000. Export Express lenders use their own loan

analyses, loan procedures, and loan documentation and streamlined loan review and

approval procedures to process SBA guaranteed loans.

Small businesses can use Export Express loans for many different purposes including

foreign market development activities such as trade show participation and product

literature translation. SBA Export Express loans may support standby letters of credit

that are used for either bid or performance bonds, revolving lines of credit for export

purposes, term loans, and other financing to enable small business concerns, including

small business export trading companies and small business export management companies to develop foreign markets. To be eligible for SBA Export Express assistance,

applicants must have been in business operation for at least one year, though not necessarily in exporting.

SBA Export Express combines the SBA’s small business lending assistance with its

technical assistance programs to help small businesses obtain export financing.

Technical assistance is provided by U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) in cooperation with the SBA’s network of resource partners. On approval of an SBA Export

Express loan, the SBA representative in the nearest USEAC will contact the borrower

to offer appropriate assistance.

Contact: 1-800-U-ASK-SBA for the nearest SBA district office or USEAC; e-mail:

answerdesk@sba.gov; or access the SBA Export Express home page: www.sba.gov/oit/

exportexpress.html.

Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs)/Small Business Administration

(SBA)

SBICs, licensed by the SBA, are privately owned and managed investment firms.

SBICs with investment strategies that include export activities may receive equity capital or term working capital in excess of the SBA’s $750,000 statutory limit.

Contact: Investment Division, (202) 205-6510; home page: www.sba.gov/inv.

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Export Finance Matchmaker/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The Export Finance Matchmaker (EFM) program uses the Internet to match U.S.

exporters with sources of export financing or risk mitigation. Information collected

from the exporter is matched with corresponding offerings of the export finance/risk

mitigation firms. This program supports a variety of export financing products, including pre-export working capital, direct loans to foreign buyers, forfeiting, export

factoring, documentary products, export credit insurance, and other financial services.

Contact: William Franklin, Office of Finance, (202) 482-3277; fax (202) 482-5702; e-mail:

tradefinance@ita.doc.gov; home page: www.trade.gov/efm.

Untied Aid Initiative/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce 

This program provides information on how to access foreign donor aid programs, including grant aid, “soft loans,” and technical cooperation, to finance U.S. export sales

in infrastructure and other sectors. According to data from the Organization for

Economic Cooperation and Development, approximately 81 percent of bilateral aid is

“untied” (i.e., not contingent upon the purchase of goods and services from the donor

country) and therefore potentially available to finance procurement from U.S. and

other suppliers and consultants.

Contact: Danius Barzdukas, Office of Japan Trade Policy, (202) 482-1147; fax (202) 482-0469;

e-mail: danius_barzdukas@ita.doc.gov; Denise Carpenter, Office of Finance, (202) 482-4002; fax

(202) 482-5702; e-mail: denise_carpenter@ita.doc.gov; home page: www.ita.doc.gov/untiedaid.

Multilateral Development Bank Commercial Liaisons/ITA/U.S. Department of

Commerce 

Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) commercial liaisons counsel U.S. firms about

opportunities associated with funding by the World Bank; Asian, African, and InterAmerican Development Banks; and the European Bank for Reconstruction and

Development. MDB liaison officers ensure project information is available on a timely

basis and organize and develop outreach programs throughout the United States. The

development banks assist in financing social and economic infrastructure and privatization projects in developing countries. The U.S. liaison officers in each of these institutions are dedicated to the identification of these projects at the earliest possible

stage. They provide in-depth counseling to U.S. firms on bank opportunities and advocate on behalf of U.S. firms.

Contact: World Bank, Commercial Liaison Office, (202) 458-0120, fax (202) 477-2967; InterAmerican Development Bank, Commercial Liaison Office, (202) 623-3821, fax (202) 623-2039;

African Development Bank, Commercial Liaison Office (Cote D’Ivoire), +225 (22) 41-12-50, fax

+225 (22) 41-12-60 ; Asian Development Bank, Commercial Liaison Office (Philippines), +632

887-1345/1346, fax +632 887-1164; European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

(United Kingdom), +44 (171) 588-4027/4028, fax +44 (171) 588-4026; or call the Trade

Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E).
INVESTMENT FINANCE

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)

OPIC helps U.S. businesses invest overseas, fosters economic development in new and

emerging markets, complements the private sector in managing risks associated with

foreign direct investment, and supports U.S. foreign policy. Because OPIC charges

market-based fees for its products, it operates on a self-sustaining basis at no net cost

to taxpayers. OPIC promotes U.S. best practices by requiring projects to adhere to international standards on the environment, workers rights, and human rights.

Contact: OPIC InfoLine, (202) 336-8799; fax (202) 408-9859; home page: www.opic.gov.

Callers with a touchtone phone may listen to brief recorded program descriptions, request that

printed program information be sent to them via mail or fax, or, from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET,

speak with an OPIC information officer.

Investment Insurance/Overseas Private Investment Corporation

OPIC offers several programs to insure U.S. investments in emerging markets and developing countries against the risks of: (1) currency inconvertibility-the inability to

convert profits, debt service, and other investment remittances from local currency

into U.S. dollars or the inability to transfer funds; (2) expropriation-loss of an investment due to expropriation, nationalization, or confiscation by the host government;

and (3) political violence-loss of assets or income due to war, revolution, insurrection,

or politically motivated civil strife, terrorism, or sabotage. Coverage is available for

new ventures, expansion of existing enterprises, privatizations, and acquisitions with

positive developmental benefits. Coverage is available for equity investments, parent

company and third-party loans and loan guarantees, technical assistance agreements,

leases, consigned inventory or equipment, and other forms of investment. OPIC has

several insurance programs offering coverage tailored to meet the special insurance

needs of certain types of international investments.

Contact: OPIC InfoLine, (202) 336-8799; fax (202) 408-9859; home page: www.opic.gov.

Finance Programs/Overseas Private Investment Corporation

OPIC provides financing through direct loans and loan guarantees for medium, and

long-term private investment. Loans range from $100,000 to $250 million for projects

sponsored by U.S. companies, and financing can be provided on a project finance or

corporate finance basis. In most cases, the U.S. sponsor is expected to contribute at

least 25 percent of the project equity, have a track record in the industry, and have the

means to contribute to the financial success of the project. OPIC will not lend to

projects that can secure adequate financing from commercial sources. Additionally, to

address the lack of sufficient equity investment in emerging markets, OPIC has

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supported the creation of privately owned and managed investment funds that make direct equity and equity-related investments in new, expanding, or privatizing companies.

Contact: OPIC InfoLine, (202) 336-8799; fax (202) 408-9859; home page: www.opic.gov.

GRANTS AND FUNDING FOR FEASIBILITY

STUDIES AND OTHER EXPORT-RELATED

NEEDS

Feasibility Studies/U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA)

One of the TDA’s primary activities is the grant funding of feasibility studies and

other project planning activities for major projects in developing and middle-income

countries. The studies are conducted by U.S. private sector firms and represent a wide

range of host government high priority sectors, including energy, transportation,

telecommunications, information technology, manufacturing, minerals development,

and the environment. Feasibility studies assess the economic, financial, and technical

viability of a potential project. Applications for feasibility studies are accepted with

host country endorsement.

Contact: TDA Information Resource Center, (703) 875-4357; fax (703) 875-4009; e-mail:

info@tda.gov. A model feasibility study proposal format can be found on the TDA home page:

www.tda.gov.

Technical Assistance Grants/U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA)

The TDA funds technical assistance related to the evaluation or implementation of

projects to project sponsors. In some instances, the TDA also offers funding to foreign

governments for technical assistance that supports capacity building initiatives and the

implementation of trade agreements that may lead to increased U.S. exports.

Contact: TDA Information Resource Center, (703) 875-4357; fax (703) 875-4009; e-mail:

info@tda.gov; home page: www.tda.gov.

Desk Studies and Definitional Missions/U.S. Trade and Development Agency

(TDA) 

Before the TDA provides project specific grant assistance, it requires independent

evaluation of the proposal. The TDA hires teams of technical specialists, all of whom

are from small U.S. businesses, to gather additional information on projects and provide evaluations. Desk studies provide quick analyses and are conducted in the United
States. Definitional missions provide more detailed evaluations and involve travel to

the region in question.

Contact: For a list of current opportunities, contact the TDA definitional mission hotline at (703)

875-7447. To be included in the TDA definitional mission consultant list, register on-line at the

TDA Web site. TDA e-mail: info@tda.gov; home page: www.tda.gov.

Trust Funds for U.S. Firms at the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)/U.S.

Trade and Development Agency (TDA) 

The TDA maintains trust funds at five MDBs: the World Bank, the International

Finance Corporation, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and

the Inter-American Development Bank and its private sector arm, the Inter-American

Investment Corporation. These funds, most of which are known as evergreen funds,

can be used for technical assistance and feasibility studies. The TDA maintains a minimum balance that is readily available to fund project opportunities for U.S. firms or to

help U.S. businesses take advantage of time-sensitive projects.

Since MDBs finance many of the capital projects in the developing world, the TDA’s

close relationship with them is advantageous for the U.S. business community. In addition to the valuable project information gained through the MDBs, which the TDA

passes on to U.S. firms, working with bank projects ensures that a potential funding

source has been identified.

Contact: TDA Information Resource Center at (703) 875-4357 (ask for the regional director for

the country where a project is located) or fax Barbara Bradford, deputy director, at (703) 875-

4009. TDA e-mail: info@tda.gov; home page: www.tda.gov.

Training Grants/U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA)

The TDA has authority to offer training grants in support of short-listed companies

on a transaction-specific basis. These grants frequently enable a company to cover the

cost of training local personnel on the installation, operation, and maintenance of

equipment specific to its bid proposal.

Contact: TDA Information Resource Center, (703) 875-4357; fax (703) 875-4009; e-mail:

tda@info.gov; home page: www.tda.gov.

Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) Grants/ITA/U.S. Department

of Commerce 

The MDCP is a competitive matching funds program operated by the International

Trade Administration that builds public-private partnerships by providing federal assistance to non-profit export multipliers such as states, trade associations, chambers of

commerce, world trade centers, and small business development centers. These multipliers are particularly effective in reaching and assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Applicants use their own creativity to design projects that will help

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SMEs to enter, expand, or maintain market share in targeted markets overseas.

MDCP awards help underwrite the start-up costs of new export marketing ventures.

Contact: MDCP program manager, (202) 482-2969; home page: www.export.gov/mdcp.

Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT)/ITA/U.S. Department of

Commerce 

The SABIT program is a private sector joint initiative to promote market access and

to catalyze economic development in Eurasian countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan,

Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,

Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. SABIT offers both group training programs and competitive grants to U.S. companies, industry associations, technology transfer and commercialization institutions, non-governmental, and other organizations. The grants cover a

share of the costs of hosting Eurasian managers and scientists for three to six months

of hands-on professional training in U.S. business practices. With funding of $40 million, SABIT is a leading technical assistance provider driving public-private partnerships between the U.S. and Eurasian scientific and business communities.

Contact: SABIT Program, (202) 482-0073; fax (202) 482-2443; home page: www.mac.doc.

gov/sabit.

EcoLinks Partnership Grants Program/Institute for International Education

(IIE)/U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

EcoLinks, the Eurasian-American Partnership for Environmentally Sustainable

Economies, is a USAID-funded program that promotes market-based solutions to

urban and industrial environmental problems in Central and Eastern Europe and

Eurasia. EcoLinks provides grants and facilitates trade and investment to create lasting environmentally focused partnerships among businesses, local governments, and

relevant associations in the region and their counterparts in the United States. The

EcoLinks grants program provides Quick Response Awards, up to $5,000 each, to

support travel-related partnering activities such as meetings and site visits and identifies industry best practices to be used as models for future development in the region.

Contact: Ioana Hartshorn, program officer, EcoLinks Partnership Grant Program, (202) 326-

7814; fax (202) 326-7774; e-mail: ihartshorn@iie.org; home page: www.ecolinks.org.

Office of Citizen Exchanges/U.S. Department of State 

The State Department designs and develops exchange programs to encourage marketbased economic development. It funds programs conducted by U.S. non-profit organizations that work with international leaders, including young professionals. For example, one program, Community Connections, brings young entrepreneurs, local

government officials, and legal professionals from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus,

and Georgia to the United States for practical internships.

Contact: Office of Citizen Exchanges, (202) 401-6884; fax (202) 619-4350; e-mail:

vrector@pd.state.gov; home page: http://exchanges.state.gov.
Chapter 8 

Agricultural Export and Finance Programs

AGRICULTURAL EXPORT PROGRAMS

Outreach and Exporter Assistance/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)/U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

The first point of contact for information on exporting agricultural products is the

Office of Outreach and Exporteer Assistance, which provides basic export counseling

and directs inquiries to the appropriate USDA office for additional assistance.

Extensive information on export assistance programs and foreign market data is also

available through the FAS home page.

Contact: Office of Outreach and Exporter Assistance, (202) 720-7420 or (202) 720-9509; fax

(202) 205-9728 or (202) 690-2489; e-mail: tapo@fas.usda.gov or outreach@fas.usda.gov;

home page: www.fas.usda.gov.

AgExporter/Foreign Agricultural Service(FAS)/U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA)

AgExporter is a monthly magazine for U.S. agricultural producers and food processors,

exporters, trade organizations, state departments of agriculture, and businesses selling

farm and consumer-ready food products overseas. It provides tips on exporting, descriptions of markets with the greatest sales potential, and information on export assistance available from the USDA. A one-year subscription costs $44 ($55 for subscribers overseas).

Contact: To obtain a sample copy of AgExporter, contact the FAS Information Division at (202)

720-7115; e-mail info@fas.usda.gov; or visit http://ffas.usda.gov/info/agexporter/agexport.html.

AgExport Connections/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)/U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA)

AgExport Connections manages four basic services that are available to exporters of

U.S. food, farm, forest, and seafood products:

◆ Trade Leads are foreign trade inquiries that the FAS offices transmit electronically to the USDA. They are made available to U.S. exporters via e-mail. Trade

leads are also available through trade publications and state departments of agriculture and trade development centers.

Contact: Sharon Claggett, (202) 690-3416; e-mail: sharon.claggett@fas.usda.gov.

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◆ Buyer Alert is a biweekly newsletter that can introduce your food, farm, forest,

and seafood products to foreign buyers at only $15 per announcement.

Advertisements for up to five products may be submitted for each announcement.

Buyer Alert announcements are transmitted electronically to FAS offices, which

distribute the newsletter to more than 20,000 potential buyers in 65 countries.

Contact: Linda Conrad, (202) 690-3421; fax (202) 690-4374; e-mail: linda.conrad@fas.

usda.gov.

◆ Foreign Buyer Lists contain detailed contact information on more than 23,000

importers of food, farm, forest, and seafood products in 85 countries. Lists may be

ordered by product or country at a cost of $15 each.

Contact: Sharon Claggett, (202) 690-3416; e-mail: sharon.claggett@fas.usda.gov.

◆ U.S. Supplier Lists may be used to source U.S. food, farm, forest, and seafood

products for export. Nearly 3,500 firms are included in this database, which is also

made available to foreign buyers through FAS offices overseas. Lists may be ordered by product at a cost of $15 each.

Contact: Linda Conrad, (202) 690-3421; fax (202) 690-4374; e-mail: linda.conrad@fas.

usda.gov.

◆ The AgExport Action Kit provides information to U.S. businesses on the export

programs available from AgExport Connections. The information is designed to

put exporters of food, farm, forest, and seafood products in contact with foreign

buyers. To receive a free copy of the Action Kit, call (202) 720-7103.

Contact: AgExport Connections, (202) 720-7103; fax (202) 690-4374; home page:

www.fas.usda.gov/agexport/exporter.html.

National Agricultural Library (NAL)/U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

The NAL is a repository of information on agricultural marketing and trade. NAL

staff respond to inquiries with customized assistance by combining in-depth knowledge of the library’s resources, state-of-the-art technology, and networking. NAL staff

also assist users in accessing the library’s on-line systems and Web sites: ISIS

(Integrated System for Information Services) and AGRICOLA (Agricultural On-line

Access database).

Contact: NAL Service Desk, (301) 504-5755; fax (301) 504-6110; e-mail: agref@nal.usda.gov;

National Agricultural Library home page: www.nal.usda.gov. ISIS and AGRICOLA home page:

www.nal.usda.gov/ag98.
Economic Research Service (ERS)/U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

The Economic Research Service provides in-depth economic analyses on agricultural

economies, trade policies of foreign countries, world agricultural trade and development issues, and their linkages with the U.S. food and fiber economy. The ERS analyzes how factors influencing demand (population, income, and tastes), production

variables (inputs and technology), foreign governments’ commercial policies and programs (price controls, environmental and food safety laws, and tariffs), macroeconomic

conditions (exchange rates and debt), and major events (for example, China’s accession

to the WTO) affect countries’ agricultural production, consumption, and trade; international food and fiber prices; and U.S. food and fiber competitiveness. The ERS

widely disseminates information and analyses on international agricultural trade, food

aid, and development through regional and commodity reports, bulletins and updates,

periodicals, and electronic databases.

Contact: John Dunmore, deputy director, Market and Trade Economics Division, (202) 694-5204;

fax (202) 694-5792; e-mail: jdunmore@ers.usda.gov; home page: www.ers.usda.gov.

Trade Shows and Missions/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)/U.S. Department

of Agriculture (USDA) 

The USDA Trade Show Office offers U.S. food and beverage exporters a choice of

programs to satisfy their marketing needs. Programs include fully sponsored trade

shows, sales missions, and endorsed shows in both leading and emerging markets

worldwide. Fully sponsored trade shows consist of a package of services, including a

fully appointed booth, shipping of product samples, and educational programs. Sales

missions include guaranteed appointments with potential buyers, orientation to the

market, and translation services. In addition, the USDA Trade Show Office provides

information on the promoters of other international food and beverage shows.

Contact: USDA Trade Show Office, (202) 690-1182; fax (202) 690-4374; home page:

www.fas.usda.gov/agexport/tsinfo.html.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service/U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

This program researches cooperative involvement in international trade and provides

trade-related technical assistance to U.S. farmer-owned cooperatives.

Contact: Tracey Kennedy, International Trade Program, (202) 690-1428; fax (202) 690-2723; 

e-mail: tracey.kennedy@usda.gov.

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AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Shipper Assistance/Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)/U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA)

The Office of Shipper and Exporter Assistance (SEA) provides new and experienced

agricultural exporters with the information they need to get their products overseas,

on time, in good condition, and at the lowest cost. SEA staff members also conduct

export transportation seminars to teach new or prospective agricultural exporters how

to transport their high-value or value-added food products overseas. These seminars,

held throughout the country, cover an array of transportation issues such as finding a

freight forwarder, selecting transportation options, packaging, container loading, and

temperature management.

Contact: Jim Caron or other SEA staff, (202) 690-1304; fax (202) 690-3616; e-mail:

jim.caron@usda.gov; home page: www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/tmdsea.htm.

Transportation Publications and Resource Guidance/U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA) 

The Transportation Publications and Resource Guidance Center provides publications

and guidance to help agricultural exporters efficiently use transportation resources and

maintain product quality in transit. A weekly grain transportation newsletter, monthly

ocean container freight rate bulletin, a 10-year database of ocean freight costs for international grain shipments, and special reports are also available.

Contact: Jim Caron or other SEA staff, (202) 690-1304; fax (202) 690-3616 or (202) 690-1340;

e-mail: jim.caron@usda.gov; home page: www.usda.gov/ams/titlepag.htm.

AGRICULTURAL FINANCE AND GRANT

PROGRAMS

Export Credit Guarantee Programs/U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) administers a variety of export credit

guarantee programs that provide U.S. exporters and bankers protection against default

on repayment of credit extended for an export sales transaction. The programs cover

both political and commercial default. U.S. exporters benefit by being able to make a

sale that might not be made without a payment guarantee. With a CCC guarantee,
U.S. bankers can extend more attractive rates of interest for longer periods than commercial terms. Importers benefit by being able to negotiate better-than-commercial

rates of interest and longer periods for repayment with their banks.

◆ The Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) and the Intermediate Export

Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-103) underwrite credit extended by the private

banking sector in the United States (or, less commonly, by a U.S. exporter) to approved foreign banks using dollar-denominated, irrevocable letters of credit to pay

for food and agricultural products sold to foreign buyers. GSM-102 covers credit

terms up to three years. GSM-103 covers longer credit terms up to 10 years. Under

GSM-102/103, the CCC does not provide financing, but guarantees payments due

from foreign banks.

Contact: L.T. McElvain, (202) 720-6211; fax (202) 720-0938; e-mail: mcelvain@usda.gov;

home page: www.fas.usda.gov.

◆ The Supplier Credit Guarantee Program (SCGP) provides a guarantee, in the

event of an importer’s default, on a portion of a U.S. exporter’s open account receivable. U.S. exporters can purchase coverage for agricultural commodities or

product sales where short-term credit has been extended directly to the importer.

The payment obligation of the importer must be evidenced by a signed promissory

note as prescribed by the CCC. While the SCGP emphasizes high-value or valueadded agricultural commodities, any agricultural product may be considered.

Contact: Penny Stevenson, 202-720-8639; fax (202) 720-0938; e-mail:

stevensonp@fas.usda.gov; home page: www.fas.usda.gov.

◆ The Facility Guarantee Program (FGP) provides credit guarantees for the sale of

manufactured goods and services to enhance and establish agribusiness-related facilities overseas that primarily handle, store, distribute, or process U.S. agricultural

products and commodities. The FGP assists importers in acquiring needed manufactured goods and services while protecting exporters from most of the risk of

nonpayment by foreign banks.

Contact: Joyce Estep, (202) 720-0581; fax (202) 690-0251; e-mail: estep@fas.usda.gov; or

Program Planning, Development and Evaluation Division, (202) 720-4221; home page:

www.fas.usda.gov

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Market Access Program (MAP)/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)/U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

The MAP uses funds from the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation to help U.S.

producers, exporters, private companies, and other trade organizations finance both

brand and generic promotional activities for U.S. agricultural, fish, and forestry products. The MAP encourages the development, maintenance, and expansion of commercial export markets for these products. Activities financed include consumer promotions, market research, technical assistance, and trade servicing. Agricultural trade

organizations, cooperatives, state departments of agriculture, and small businesses may

submit applications for participation. The deadline date is published annually in the

Federal Register.

Contact: Marketing Operations Staff, (202) 720-4327; fax (202) 720-9361; home page:

www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/mapprog.html.
Chapter 9 

Health, Performance, Quality, and Safety

Inspection/Certification Programs

Safe Harbor Data Protection Program/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce

The Safe Harbor is a self-certification system designed to help U.S. companies avoid

interruptions in their business dealings with the European Union (EU) or prosecution

by European authorities under European privacy laws. The EU Directive on Data

Protection that took effect in 1998 prohibits the transfer of personal data to non-EU

nations that fail to meet the European “adequacy” standard for privacy protection. As

a result of the differing approaches to privacy established by the European

Commission (EC) and the United States, this EU directive could significantly hamper

the ability of U.S. companies to engage in many trans-Atlantic transactions, including

e-commerce. The Safe Harbor framework was developed by the Commerce

Department, in consultation with the EC, industry, and non-governmental organizations, to bridge these different privacy approaches and provide a streamlined means for

U.S. organizations to comply with the EU directive.

Contact: Certification may be submitted via the Internet or by sending a letter to Jeff Rohlmeier,

Room 2003, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, 14th & Constitution

Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; (202) 482-0343; fax (202) 482-5665; e-mail:

jeff_rohlmeier@ita.doc.gov; home page: www.export.gov/safeharbor.

FDA Export Certificates for U.S. Products/Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

Foreign customers and/or governments often request that U.S. companies submit an

export certificate when they ship FDA-regulated products abroad. FDA export certificates are for export purposes only and may not be used in domestic advertising or promotion. The FDA, at the request of U.S. exporters, will issue export certificates for

human drugs and biological products, animal drugs, and medical devices that meet the

applicable requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA certifies that the products meet domestic U.S. requirements and are eligible for sale in the

United States or, in cases where the product may not be marketed in the United

States, that the product may be exported under U.S. law. The type of application and

information required may differ according to the type of certificate requested and the

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commodity being exported. Exporters are urged to contact the appropriate center

within the FDA for guidance on requesting procedures and export certificate eligibility for their particular country.

Contact: General information on the application process is available at www.fda.gov/opacom/

fedregister/frexport.html. The FDA home page, www.fda.gov, also provides descriptions of the requirements and links to FDA centers. For certificates relating to drugs, contact the Center for Drug

Evaluation and Research at (301) 827-8983; biologics, contact the Center for Biologics Evaluation

and Research at (301) 827-2000; medical devices, contact the Center for Devices and

Radiological Health, Office of Compliance, Information Processing, and Office of Automation

Branch, at (301) 827-4555, extension 110; animal drugs, contact the Center for Veterinary

Medicine at (301) 827-0178.

Inspection Certificates for Food and Agricultural Exports/U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA)

Several agencies within the USDA provide inspection services when certificates are

required to clear imported products through overseas customs or when requested by

foreign buyers.

◆ The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provides exporters information on import and export requirements for plant and animal products and byproducts. Phytosanitary inspections for plant materials are offered at ports and interior locations. Animal health certificates for animal products, including hides and

pet foods, can be obtained from your local APHIS veterinarian.

Contact: For plant export certification, call (301) 734-8537; for animal health certification,

call (301) 734-3277; or visit the APHIS home page: www.aphis.usda.gov and look for

“Plant/Animal/Health.”

◆ The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) provides inspections under the U.S.

Grain Standards Act and the Agricultural Marketing Act. The FGIS also conducts

mandatory inspections for all exported grain. Products examined by the FGIS include rice, peas, beans, lentils, all grains, and grain-based processed products.

Contact: John Giler, Standards and Procedures Branch, (202) 720-0252; fax (202) 720-

1015; e-mail: john.giler@usda.gov; home page: www.usda.gov/gipsa.

◆ The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) guarantees that meat and poultry

products are properly labeled and U.S. inspected and approved.

Contact: Food Safety and Inspection Service, (402) 221-7400; fax (402) 221-7479; home

page: www.fsis.usda.gov/ofo/export/explib.htm or www.fsis.usda.gov/index.htm.
• The Voluntary Food Quality Certification Service: The USDA’s Agricultural

Marketing Service (AMS), in cooperation with state agencies, offers official grading, inspection, and certification services; production and processing verification

services; and chemical and microbiological testing services for a variety of agricultural products, including organic products. Grading, inspection, and certification

services can be based on U.S. grade standards developed by the USDA for these

products, or they can be based on applicant specifications and processes.

Contact: Kenneth C. Clayton, associate administrator, AMS, (202) 720-4276; fax (202) 720-

8477; e-mail: kenneth.clayton@usda.gov; home page: www.ams.usda.gov/index.htm. AMS

program areas include cotton: www.ams.usda.gov/cotton; dairy: www.ams.usda.gov/dairy;

fruits and vegetables: www.ams.usda.gov/fv; livestock and seed: www.ams.usda.gov/lsg;

poultry: www.ams.usda.gov/poultry, science and technology: www.ams.usda.gov/science;

tobacco: www.ams.usda.gov/tob; and transportation and marketing: www.ams.usda.gov/

tmd and www.ams.usda.gov/civilrights. AMS International Services home page: www.ams.

usda.gov/international.

Seafood Inspection Program/National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA)/U.S. Department of Commerce 

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Inspection Services Division includes

consumer safety officers and trade specialists who offer a range of services to assist

U.S. fishing industry businesses engaged in the exports of fish and fishery products.

Besides inspecting and certifying products for export, staff members advise seafood

marketers about foreign regulations and maintain contact with foreign government

regulatory agencies to resolve sanitary and hygienic issues. NOAA also promotes and

facilitates the trade of U.S. fishery products internationally.

Contact: Kimberly Young, Seafood Inspection Program, (800) 422-2750 or (301) 713-2355; fax

(301) 713-1081; home page: http://seafood.nmfs.noaa.gov.

Environmental Technology Verification Program (ETV)/U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA)

The ETV program verifies the performance characteristics of commercial-ready environmental technologies through the evaluation of objective, quality-assured data. The

program provides potential purchasers and permitters, in the United States and

abroad, with an independent and credible assessment of innovative environmental

technologies. This voluntary program currently verifies technologies in the following

categories: drinking water systems; site characterization and monitoring; innovative

coatings and coating equipment; indoor air products; advanced monitoring systems;

air pollution control technology; greenhouse gas technology; wet weather flow technologies; and source water protection technologies. A center for verifying pollution

prevention, recycling, and waste treatment technologies is being planned.

Contact: ETV home page: www.epa.gov/etv.

55
56

Wholesaler’s Basic Permit/Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

(TTB)/U.S. Department of the Treasury

A Wholesaler’s Basic Permit from the TTB, the agency that regulates alcoholic beverages and wine, is required to export wine, beer, and distilled spirits on a wholesale

level. A background check is required when a Wholesaler’s Basic Permit is issued. The

United States does not require a permit for alcohol sold abroad on a retail level. The

foreign country may mandate specific documentation. Specialists at the TTB can help

companies navigate the application process.

Contact: Chief, International Trade Division, Office of Alcohol and Tobacco, (202) 927-8100 or for

application materials, contact the National Revenue Center, (513) 684-3334; or view www.ttb.gov.
Chapter 10 

Export Licenses and Controls

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)/U.S. Department of Commerce

The BIS provides assistance on export licensing requirements through its Office of

Exporter Services (OEXS). OEXS interprets Export Administration Regulations

(EAR) and provides assistance, such as detailed and up-to-date information on the

status of pending license applications; advice on a broad range of export issues, licensing requirements, documentation required for export transactions, and special policy

concerns for specific countries; assistance in selecting the appropriate license; and answers to inquiries regarding BIS policy issues and processing time frames.

OEXS counselors can serve as intermediaries and arrange meetings between exporters

and BIS licensing officials. OEXS also authorizes emergency processing on export license applications. Cases meeting specific criteria are expedited through the licensing

process. These cases are often approved within a few days of receipt of the application.

OEXS also provides counseling and training to help defense-dependent firms located

throughout the western United States diversify into new commercial and international

markets.

The Internet-based Simplified Network Application Process (SNAP) provides a secure environment for the electronic submission of license applications, commodity

classification requests, and high-performance computer notices. Once the BIS has received and processed a request to use SNAP, exporters can access the system for tracking purposes within 24 hours, and notification of final action is sent electronically.

Contact: BIS Office of Outreach and Educational Services, (202) 482-4811; fax (202) 482-3617;

export seminar staff, (202) 482-6031; fax (202) 482-3322; BIS Western Regional Office, (949)

660-0144; fax (949) 660-9347; BIS Northern California Office, (408) 998-7402; fax (408) 998-

7470; home page: www.bis.doc.gov.

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)/U.S. Department of the Treasury 

The OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted

foreign countries, terrorists, and international narcotics traffickers and their agents

based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals. OFAC publishes an extensive

library of free materials on its Web site to help the international trade community

comply with U.S. sanctions. The Web site includes summaries of sanctions programs

by country, as well as a booklet entitled Foreign Assets Control Regulations for Exporters

and Importers. Also available is the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked

Persons” list of entities and individuals with whom U.S. citizens may not conduct

57
58

business and whose property must be blocked if under the control of a U.S. citizen.

Users can keep current with OFAC updates through a free subscription e-mail service.

All of the information available on the Web site is also available via OFAC’s free fax-ondemand service. OFAC also maintains a hotline staffed by compliance officers who are

knowledgeable about international trade. They are available Monday through Friday

(8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to provide guidance on sanctions-related matters.

Contact: Compliance Programs Division hotline, 1-800-540-6322; fax (202) 622-2426; 24 hour

fax-on-demand service, (202) 622-0077; home page: www.treas.gov/ofac.

Office of Defense Trade Controls (DTC)/U.S. Department of State

The Office of Defense Trade Controls (DTC) implements the International Traffic in

Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the U.S. Munitions List (USML), both of which regulate the export of U.S. defense articles, services, and related technical data. The Arms

Licensing Division receives, evaluates, and adjudicates export license applications for

items regulated under the ITAR and USML.

Contact: Arms Licensing Division, (202) 663-2714 or (202) 663-2700; fax (202) 261-8264;

home page: www.pmdtc.org.
APPENDIX A

EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER NETWORK

59

ALABAMA

Birmingham

950 22nd Street North, Room 707

Birmingham, AL 35203

Phone: (205) 731-1331 

Fax: (205) 731-0076

E-mail: office.birmingham@

mail.doc.gov 

ALASKA

Anchorage

550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1770

Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone: (907) 271-6237 

Fax: (907) 271-6242

E-mail: alaska.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

ARIZONA

Phoenix

2901 North Central Avenue 

Suite 970

Phoenix, AZ 85012

Phone: (602) 640-2513 

Fax: (602) 640-2518

E-mail: phoenix.office.box@

mail.doc.gov 

Tucson

166 West Alameda

Tucson, AZ 85701

Phone: (520) 670-5540 

Fax: (520) 791-5413

E-mail: tucson.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

ARKANSAS

Little Rock

425 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 700

Little Rock, AR 72201

Phone: (501) 324-5794

Fax: (501) 324-7380

E-mail: office.littlerock@mail.doc.gov 

CALIFORNIA

Bakersfield (Kern County)

2100 Chester Ave., 1st Floor 

Suite 166

Bakersfield, CA 93301

Phone: (661) 637-0136 

Fax: (661) 637-0156

E-mail: bakersfield.office.box@

mail.doc.gov

Fresno

550 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 155

Fresno, CA 93710

Phone: (559) 227-6582

Fax: (559) 227-6509

E-mail: fresno.office.box@mail.doc.gov

Indio/Cabazon

84-245 Indio Springs Parkway

Indio, CA 92203-3499

Phone: (760) 342-4455

Fax: (760) 342-3535
60

Inland Empire

2940 Inland Empire Boulevard

Suite 121

Ontario, CA 91764

Phone: (909) 466-4134 

Fax: (909) 466-4140

E-mail: ontario.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

Los Angeles (Downtown)

350 South Figueroa Street, Suite 509

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Phone: (213) 894-4231 

Fax: (213) 894-8789

E-mail: los.angeles.downtown.office.

box@mail.doc.gov 

Los Angeles (West)

11150 Olympic Boulevard, Suite 975

Los Angeles, CA 90064

Phone: (310) 235-7104 

Fax: (310) 235-7220

E-mail: los.angeles.office.box@

mail.doc.gov

Monterey

411 Pacific Street, Suite 316A

Monterey, CA 93940

Phone: (831) 641-9850 

Fax: (831) 641-9849

E-mail: montereyca.office.box@

mail.doc.gov 

North Bay/Novato

4040 Civic Center Drive, Suite 200

San Rafael, CA 94903

Phone: (415) 492-4546/4548 

Fax: (415) 492-4549

E-mail: novato.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

Oakland

544 Water Street

Oakland, CA 94607

Phone: (510) 273-7350 

Fax: (510) 273-7352

E-mail: oakland.office.box@mail.

doc.gov 

Orange County

3300 Irvine Avenue, Suite 305

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Phone: (949) 660-1688 

Fax: (949) 660-1338

E-mail: newport.beach.office.box@

mail.doc.gov

Sacramento

917 7th Street, 2nd Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 498-5155 

Fax: (916) 498-5923

E-mail: sacramento.office.box@

mail.doc.gov 

San Diego

6363 Greenwich Drive, Suite 230

San Diego, CA 92122

Phone: (619) 557-5395 

Fax: (619) 557-6176

E-mail: san.diego.office.box@

mail.doc.gov 

San Francisco

250 Montgomery Street, 14th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104

Phone: (415) 705-2300 

Fax: (415) 705-2297

E-mail: san.francisco.office.box@

mail.doc.gov

San Jose

152 N. Third St., Suite 550

San Jose, CA 95112-5591

Phone: (408) 271-7300

Fax: (408) 271-7306

E-mail: san.joseca.office.box@

mail.doc.gov 

Ventura County

5700 Ralston Street, Suite 310

Ventura, CA 93003

Phone: (805) 676-1573 

Fax: (805) 676-1892
COLORADO

Denver

World Trade Center

1625 Broadway, Suite 680

Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (303) 844-6001 

Fax: (303) 844-5651

E-mail: denver.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

CONNECTICUT 

Middletown

213 Court Street, Suite 903

Middletown, CT 06457-3382

Phone: (860) 638-6950 

Fax: (860) 638-6970

E-mail: office.middletown@mail.

doc.gov 

DELAWARE

Served by the Philadelphia, Pa.,

Export Assistance Center

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Served by the Baltimore, Md.,

Export Assistance Center

FLORIDA

Tampa Bay

14010 Roosevelt Blvd., Suite 704

Clearwater, FL 33762

Phone: (727) 893-3738 

Fax: (727) 893-3839

E-mail: office.clearwater@mail.doc.gov 

61

Ft. Lauderdale

200 E. Las Olas Boulevard

Suite 1600

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Phone: (954) 356-6640 

Fax: (954) 356-6644

E-mail: office.miami@mail.doc.gov 

Miami

777 North West 72nd Avenue

Mail Box 3L2

Miami, FL 33126-3009

Phone: (305) 526-7425, ext. 22 

Fax: (305) 526-7434

E-mail: office.miami@mail.doc.gov 

Orlando

200 E. Robinson Street, Suite 1270

Orlando, FL 32801

Phone: (407) 648-6235 

Fax: (407) 648-6756

E-mail: office.orlando@mail.doc.gov 

Tallahassee

The Atrium Building

325 John Knox Road, Suite 201

Tallahassee, FL 32303

Phone: (850) 942-9635 

Fax: (850) 922-9595

E-mail: office.tallahassee@mail.doc.gov 

GEORGIA

Atlanta

285 Peachtree Center Avenue, NE

Suite 900

Atlanta, GA 30303-1229

Phone: (404) 657-1900 

Fax: (404) 657-1970

E-mail: office.atlanta@mail.doc.gov 
62

Savannah

6001 Chatham Center Drive

Suite 100

Savannah, GA 31405

Phone: (912) 652-4204 

Fax: (912) 652-4241

E-mail: office.savannah@mail.doc.gov 

HAWAII/PACIFIC ISLANDS

Honolulu

Pacific Tower

1001 Bishop Street, Suite 1140

Honolulu, HI 96813 

Phone: (808) 522-8040 

Fax: (808) 522-8045

E-mail: honolulu.office.box@mail.

doc.gov 

IDAHO

Boise

700 West State Street, 2nd Floor

Boise, ID 83720

Phone: (208) 334-3857 

Fax: (208) 334-2783

E-mail: boise.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

ILLINOIS

Chicago

55 West Monroe Street, Suite 2440

Chicago, IL 60603

Phone: (312) 353-8045 

Fax: (312) 353-8120

E-mail: office.chicago@mail.doc.gov 

Highland Park

508 Central Avenue, Suite 206

Highland Park, IL 60035

Phone: (847) 681-8010 

Fax: (847) 681-8012

E-mail: office.highlandpark@mail.

doc.gov

Peoria

922 N. Glenwood Ave.

Jobst Hall, Room 141

Peoria, IL 61606 

Phone: (309) 671-7815 

Fax: (309) 671-7818

E-mail: peoria.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

Rockford

515 N. Court Street

Rockford, IL 61103

Phone: (815) 987-8123 

Fax: (815) 963-7943

E-mail: office.rockford@mail.doc.gov

INDIANA

Indianapolis

11405 North Pennsylvania Street

Suite 106

Carmel, IN 46032

Phone: (317) 582-2300 

Fax: (317) 582-2301

E-mail: office.indianapolis@mail.

doc.gov 

IOWA

Des Moines

Partnership Building

700 Locust Street, Suite 100

Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 288-8614 

Fax: (515) 288-1437

E-mail: des.moines.box@mail.doc.gov

KANSAS

Wichita

209 East William, Suite 300

Wichita, KS 67202-4012

Phone: (316) 263-4067 

Fax: (316) 263-8306

E-mail: office.wichita@mail.doc.gov 
63

KENTUCKY 

Lexington

4th Floor, Lexington Central Library

140 E. Main Street

Lexington, KY 40507

Phone: (859) 225-7001 

Fax: (859) 225-6501

Louisville

601 W. Broadway, Room 634B

Louisville, KY 40202

Phone: (502) 582-5066 

Fax: (502) 582-6573

E-mail: office.louisville@mail.doc.gov 

Somerset

2292 S. Highway 27, Suite 240

Somerset, KY 42501

Phone: (606) 677-6160 

Fax: (606) 677-6161

E-mail: office.somerset@mail.doc.gov 

LOUISIANA 

New Orleans

365 Canal Street, Suite 1170

New Orleans, LA 70130

Phone: (504) 589-6546 

Fax: (504) 589-2337

E-mail:

office.neworleans@mail.doc.gov 

Shreveport

Business Education Building 119H

One University Place

Shreveport, LA 71115-2399

Phone: (318) 676-3064 

Fax: (318) 676-3063

E-mail: office.shreveport@mail.doc.gov 

MAINE

Portland

c/o Maine International Trade

Center

511 Congress Street

Portland, ME 04101

Phone: (207) 541-7400 

Fax: (207) 541-7420

E-mail: info@mitc.org 

MARYLAND

Baltimore

World Trade Center

401 East Pratt Street, Suite 2432

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: (410) 962-4539 

Fax: (410) 962-4529

E-mail: obaltimo@mail.doc.gov 

MASSACHUSETTS 

Boston

World Trade Center

164 Northern Avenue, Suite 307

Boston, MA 02210

Phone: (617) 424-5990 

Fax: (617) 424-5992

E-mail: office.boston@mail.doc.gov 

MICHIGAN

Detroit

211 W. Fort Street, Suite 2220

Detroit, MI 48226

Phone: (313) 226-3650 

Fax: (313) 226-3657

E-mail: office.detroit@mail.doc.gov
64

Grand Rapids

401 W. Fulton Street, Suite 311-C

Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Phone: (616) 458-3564 

Fax: (616) 458-3872

E-mail: office.grandrapids@mail.

doc.gov

Pontiac

250 Elizabeth Lake Road 

Suite 1300 West

Pontiac, MI 48341

Phone: (248) 975-9600 

Fax: (248) 975-9606

E-mail: office.pontiac@mail.doc.gov

Ypsilanti

c/o Eastern Michigan University

300 W. Michigan Ave.

Room 306G Owen

Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Phone: (734) 487-0259 

Fax: (734) 485-2396

MINNESOTA

Minneapolis

45 South 7th Street, Plaza VII 

Suite 2240

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Phone: (612) 348-1638 

Fax: (612) 348-1650

E-mail: office.minneapolis@mail.

doc.gov 

MISSISSIPPI

Raymond

175 East Capitol Street, Suite 255

Jackson, MS 39201 

Phone: (601) 965-4130 

Fax: (601) 965-4132

E-mail: william.scaggs@mail.doc.gov

MISSOURI

Kansas City

2345 Grand, Suite 650

Kansas City, MO 64108

Phone: (816) 410-9201 

Fax: (816) 410-9208

E-mail: office.kansascity@mail.doc.gov

St. Louis

8182 Maryland Avenue, Suite 303

St. Louis, MO 63105

Phone: (314) 425-3302 

Fax: (314) 425-3381

E-mail: office.stlouis@mail.doc.gov 

MONTANA 

Missoula

P.O. Box 7487 

Missoula, MT 59807

Phone: (406) 542-6656 

Fax: (406) 542-6659

E-mail: montana.office.box@mail.

doc.gov 

NEBRASKA

Omaha

11135 “O” Street

Omaha, NE 68137

Phone: (402) 597-0193 

Fax: (402) 597-0194

E-mail: omaha.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

NEVADA

Las Vegas

400 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, NV 89101

Phone: (702) 229-1157 

Fax: (702) 385-3128
65

Reno 

1755 East Plumb Lane, Suite 152

Reno, NV 89502

Phone: (775) 784-5203 

Fax: (775) 784-5343

E-mail: reno.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Portsmouth

17 New Hampshire Avenue

Portsmouth, NH 03801-2838

Phone: (603) 334-6074 

Fax: (603) 334-6110

E-mail: office.portsmouth@mail.

doc.gov 

NEW JERSEY

Newark

744 Broad Street, Suite 1505

Newark, NJ 07102

Phone: (973) 645-4682 

Fax: (973) 645-4783

E-mail: office.newark@mail.doc.gov 

Trenton

3131 Princeton Pike, Bldg. #4

Suite 105

Trenton, NJ 08648-2319

Phone: (609) 989-2100 

Fax: (609) 989-2395

E-mail: office.trenton@mail.doc.gov 

NEW MEXICO

Santa Fe

c/o New Mexico Department of

Economic Development

1100 St. Francis Drive

Santa Fe, NM 87501

or

P.O. Box 20003

Sante Fe, NM 87504-5003

Phone: (505) 827-0350 

Fax: (505) 827-0263

E-mail: santa.fe.office.box@mail.

doc.gov 

NEW YORK

Buffalo

111 West Huron Street, Room 1304

Buffalo, NY 14202

Phone: (716) 551-4191 

Fax: (716) 551-5290

E-mail: office.buffalo@mail.doc.gov 

Harlem

163 West 125th Street, Suite 904

New York, NY 10027

Phone: (212) 860-6200 

Fax: (212) 860-6203

E-mail: office.harlem@mail.doc.gov 

Long Island

400 County Seat Drive, Suite 046

Mineola, NY 11501

Phone: (516) 739-1765 

Fax: (516) 739-3310

E-mail: office.longisland@mail.doc.gov 

New York City

20 Exchange Plaza, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10005

Phone: (212) 809-2675 

Fax: (212) 809-2687

E-mail: office.newyork@mail.doc.gov
66

Rochester

400 Andrews Street, Suite 710

Rochester, NY 14604

Phone: (585) 263-6480 

Fax: (585) 325-6505

Westchester

707 Westchester Avenue, Suite 209

White Plains, NY 10604

Phone: (914) 682-6712

Fax: (914) 682-6698

E-mail: office.westchester@mail.doc.gov 

NORTH CAROLINA

Charlotte

521 East Morehead Street, Suite 435

Charlotte, NC 28202

Phone: (704) 333-4886 

Fax: (704) 332-2681

E-mail: office.charlottesc@mail.doc.gov

Greensboro

342 North Elm Street 

Greensboro, NC 27401

Phone: (336) 333-5345 

Fax: (336) 333-5158

E-mail: office.greensboro@mail.doc.gov 

Raleigh

Triangle Export Assistance Center

5 West Hargett Street, Suite 600 

Raleigh, NC 27601 

Phone: (919) 715-7373, ext. 612 

Fax: (919) 715-7777

E-mail: office.raleigh@mail.doc.gov 

NORTH DAKOTA

Served by the Minneapolis, Minn.,

Export Assistance Center

OHIO

Akron

One Cascade Plaza, 17th Floor

Akron, OH 44308

Phone: (330) 237-1264 

Fax: (330) 375-5612

E-mail: office.cleveland@mail.doc.gov 

Cincinnati

36 East 7th Street, Suite 2650

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Phone: (513) 684-2944 

Fax: (513) 684-3227

E-mail: office.cincinnati@mail.doc.gov 

Cleveland

600 Superior Avenue, East

Suite 700

Cleveland, OH 44114

Phone: (216) 522-4750 

Fax: (216) 522-2235

E-mail: office.cleveland@mail.doc.gov 

Columbus

280 North High Street, Suite 1400

Columbus, OH 43215

Phone: (614) 365-9510 

Fax: (614) 365-9598

E-mail: office.columbus@mail.doc.gov 

Toledo

300 Madison Avenue

Toledo, OH 43604

Phone: (419) 241-0683 

Fax: (419) 241-0684

E-mail: office.toledo@mail.doc.gov 

OKLAHOMA 

Oklahoma City

301 Northwest 63rd Street 

Suite 330

Oklahoma City, OK 73116 

Phone: (405) 608-5302 

Fax: (405) 608-4211

E-mail:

oklahomacity.office.box@mail.doc.gov 
67

Tulsa

700 N. Greenwood Avenue 

Suite 1400

Tulsa, OK 74106

Phone: (918) 581-7650

Fax: (918) 581-6263

E-mail: office.tulsa@mail.doc.gov 

OREGON

Portland

One World Trade Center

121 SW Salmon Street, Suite 242

Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 326-3001 

Fax: (503) 326-6351

E-mail: portlandor.office.box@mail.

doc.gov 

PENNSYLVANIA 

Harrisburg

P.O. Box 11698 (or)

228 Walnut Street, Room 850

Harrisburg, PA 17108-1698

Phone: (717) 221-4510 

Fax: (717) 221-4505

E-mail: office.harrisburg@mail.doc.gov 

Philadelphia

The Curtis Center, Suite 580 West

Independence Square West

Philadelphia, PA 19106 

Phone: (215) 597-6101 

Fax: (215) 597-6123

E-mail:

office.philadelphia@mail.doc.gov 

Pittsburgh

2002 Federal Building

1000 Liberty Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Phone: (412) 395-5050 

Fax: (412) 395-4875

E-mail: office.pittsburgh@mail.doc.gov 

PUERTO RICO 

San Juan (Hato Rey)

525 F.D. Roosevelt Avenue, Suite

905

San Juan, PR 00918

Phone: (787) 766-5555 

Fax: (787) 766-5692

E-mail: office.sanjuanpr@mail.doc.gov 

RHODE ISLAND

Providence

One West Exchange Street

Providence, RI 02903

Phone: (401) 528-5104 

Fax: (401) 528-5067

E-mail: office.providence@mail.

doc.gov 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston

5300 International Boulevard,

Suite 201-C

North Charleston, SC 29418

Phone: (843) 760-3794 

Fax: (843) 760-3798

E-mail: office.charlestonsc@mail.

doc.gov 

Columbia

1201 Main Street, Suite 1720

Columbia, SC 29201

Phone: (803) 765-5345 

Fax: (803) 253-3614

E-mail: office.columbia@mail.doc.gov 
68

Upstate

555 North Pleasantburg Drive

Park Central Office Park

Building 1, Suite 109

Greenville, SC 29607

Phone: (864) 271-1976 

Fax: (864) 271-4171

E-mail: ogreenvi@mail.doc.gov 

SOUTH DAKOTA

Sioux Falls

Augustana College

2001 South Summit Avenue

Madsen Center, Room 122

Sioux Falls, SD 57197

Phone: (605) 330-4264 

Fax: (605) 330-4266

E-mail: office.siouxfalls@mail.doc.gov 

TENNESSEE 

Knoxville

Historic City

601 West Summit Hill Drive 

Suite 300

Knoxville, TN 37902-2011

Phone: (865) 545-4637 

Fax: (865) 545-4435

E-mail: office.knoxville@mail.doc.gov 

Memphis

Buckman Hall

650 East Parkway South, Suite 348

Memphis, TN 38104

Phone: (901) 323-1543 

Fax: (901) 320-9128

E-mail: office.memphis@mail.doc.gov 

Nashville

211 Commerce Street, 3rd Floor

Suite 100

Nashville, TN 37201

Phone: (615) 259-6060 

Fax: (615) 259-6064

E-mail: office.nashville@mail.doc.gov 

TEXAS

Arlington

North Texas

2000 East Lamar Blvd., Suite 430

Arlington, TX 76006

Phone: (817) 277-1313 

Fax: (817) 299-9601

Austin

1700 Congress, 2nd Floor

Austin, TX 78701

or

P.O. Box 12728

Austin, TX 78711

Phone: (512) 916-5939 

Fax: (512) 916-5940

E-mail: office.austin@mail.doc.gov 

Fort Worth

711 Houston Street

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Phone: (817) 212-2673 

Fax: (817) 978-0178

E-mail: office.fortworth@mail.doc.gov 

Houston

15600 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

Suite 530

Houston, TX 77032

Phone: (281) 449-9402 

Fax: (281) 449-9437 

E-mail: office.houston@mail.doc.gov

San Antonio

203 South St. Mary’s Street 

Suite 360

San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone: (210) 228-9878 

Fax: (210) 228-9874

E-mail: office.sanantonio@mail.doc.gov 
69

UTAH

Salt Lake City

324 South State Street, Suite 221

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Phone: (801) 524-5116 

Fax: (801) 524-5886

E-mail: salt.lake.city.office.box@mail.

doc.gov

VERMONT

Montpelier

National Life Building, 6th Floor

Montpelier, VT 05620-0501 

Phone: (802) 828-4508 

Fax: (802) 828-3258

E-mail: office.montpelier@mail.doc.gov

VIRGINIA

Northern Virginia

1401 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1225

Arlington, VA 22209

Phone: (703) 524-2885 

Fax: (703)-524-2649

E-mail: nova.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

Richmond

P.O. Box 10026

Richmond, VA 23240-0026

or

400 North 8th Street, Suite 540

Richmond, VA 23240

Phone: (804) 771-2246 

Fax: (804) 771-2390

E-mail: office.richmond@mail.doc.gov 

WASHINGTON

Everett

728 134th St., Suite 219

Everett, WA 98204

Phone: (425) 248-2010 

Fax: (425) 745-5563

E-mail: seattle.office@mail.doc.gov

Seattle

2601 4th Ave., Suite 320

Seattle, WA 98121

Phone: (206) 553-5615 

Fax: (206) 553-7253

E-mail: seattle.office.box@mail.doc.gov 

Spokane

Spokane Regional Chamber of

Commerce

801 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 200

Spokane, WA 99201

Phone: (509) 353-2625 

Fax: (509) 353-2449

E-mail: spokane.office.box@mail.

doc.gov 

Tacoma

950 Pacific Avenue, Suite 410

Tacoma, WA 98402

Phone: (253) 593-6736 

Fax: (253) 383-4676

E-mail: tacoma.office.box@mail.

doc.gov 

WEST VIRGINIA

Charleston

405 Capitol Street, Suite 807

Charleston, WV 25301

Phone: (304) 347-5123 

Fax: (304) 347-5408

E-mail: charlestonwv.office.box@mail.

doc.gov 

Wheeling

c/o Wheeling Jesuit

University/NTTC

316 Washington Avenue

Wheeling, WV 26003

Phone: (304) 243-5493 

Fax: (304) 243-5494

E-mail: office.wheeling@mail.doc.gov 
70

WISCONSIN

Milwaukee

517 E. Wisconsin Avenue 

Room 596

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Phone: (414) 297-3473 

Fax: (414) 297-3470

E-mail: office.milwaukee@mail.doc.gov 

WYOMING

Served by the Denver, Colo.,

Export Assistance Center
71

APPENDIX B

TPCC AGENCIES AND ADDRESSES

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20230

www.commerce.gov

U.S. Department of State

2201 C Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20520

www.state.gov

U.S. Department of the Treasury

1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20220

www.treasury.gov

U.S. Department of Defense

The Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301

www.defense.gov

U.S. Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20240

www.interior.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture

14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W.

Washington, DC 20250

www.usda.gov
72

U.S. Department of Labor

200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20210

www.labor.gov

U.S. Department of Transportation

400 Seventh Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20590

www.transportation.gov

U.S. Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Washington, DC 20585

www.energy.gov

Office of Management and Budget

New Executive Office Building

725 17th Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20503

www.omb.gov

Office of the United States Trade Representative

600 17th Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20508

www.ustr.gov

Council of Economic Advisers

Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 99

The White House

Washington, DC 20502

www.whitehouse.gov/cea

Environmental Protection Agency

Ronald Reagan Building, Room 31237

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20460

www.epa.gov
73

U.S. Small Business Administration

409 Third Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20416

www.sba.gov

U.S. Agency for International Development

State Department Building

320 21st Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20523

www.usaid.gov

Export-Import Bank of the United States

811 Vermont Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20571

www.exim.gov

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

1100 New York Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20527

www.opic.gov

U.S. Trade and Development Agency

1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600

Arlington, VA 22209

www.tda.gov

National Economic Council

The White House

Washington, DC 20502

www.whitehouse.gov/nec