Ask sister organizations abroad. Seek out trade publications, other show managers and contacts you've developed at U.S. or Canadian events. And poll your existing exhibitors, a growing number of whom have international experience. You need to find someone others have worked with and had good results from. Such research can be challenging, especially if it involves boundary-crossing communication.
Embassies can also be a source of agent contacts.
The ADS assists in devising cover letters, brochures and pricing guides, which are then distributed to commercial offices of appropriate U.S. embassies. The embassy then conducts a personalized search to select promising agent prospects and reports on up to six qualified, reputable and interested candidates. Also available from the DOC is the Foreign Traders Index, part of the National Trade Data Bank. One nearly fail-safe search method, according to Weldy, is to choose your site, form a host committee and solicit that group's help in your screening process. They will serve as your local eyes and ears better than you ever could.