Exporting

From Singapore to Guatemala, an increasing number of free trade agreements are creating a more open and level playing field for U.S. small businesses. With each passing FTA, opportunities have soared for U.S. exporters- 97% of which are small businesses. While developing nations are growing at exponential rates, this may be the best time ever to join the global economy. According to export.gov, the federal government’s international trade portal, the benefits of exporting include:

Many more potential customers. Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers live outside the United States.

Less vulnerability to economic swings. If the economy softens at home, it might be booming elsewhere, allowing you to better weather the domestic downturn.

Support for U.S. jobs. About 20% of U.S. manufacturing jobs depend on exports.

Exporting also benefits an area’s economy, selling outside a region’s borders brings more money into the region’s economy.

Exporting Gross by Countries:

Helpful Exporting Links and Documents

Chamber Certificate of Origin
Some destinations require a Certificate of Origin (CO) for certain commodities. The purpose of the CO is to authenticate the country of origin of the merchandise being shipped.

The CO may be required because of established Treaty arrangements, varying duty rates, and preferential duty treatment dependent on the shipment's origin.

The CO verifies the country in which the goods were manufactured. The commodity being exported and its destination determine if the CO is required. Some nations restrict imports from certain countries; many countries limit the quantity of goods that are allowed to be imported, or give preference to goods manufactured in the U.S.

This form requires the authorized signature and seal of the Chamber of Commerce.

www.export.gov
Site dedicated to helping U.S. companies export goods.

www.traderoots.org/
TradeRoots is the nation's leading sustained grassroots education program dedicated to raising public awareness of international trade on a local level.

www.unzco.com/basicguide/index.html
A basic guide to exporting from the U.S. Department of Commerce in Cooperation with Unz & Co., Inc.

www.bitd.org
 International Customs Tariffs Bureau: the world’s Customs tariffs translated into five languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish).
 

www.ita.doc.gov/media/publications/abstract/trade_finance_guide2007desc.html
Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters has been written to help U.S. companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), learn the fundamentals of trade finance to turn their export opportunities into actual sales and to achieve the ultimate goal: to get paid for their export sales. Eleven concise, two-page chapters offer the basics of numerous financing techniques, from open accounts, to forfaiting, to government assisted foreign buyer financing.

Importing

Importing Gross by Top 25 Countries:

Rank	Country	Imports Million US$	Date of Information
—	World (sum of all countries)	12,090,000	2004 est.
1	United States	1,869,000	2006 est.
—	European Union (external trade only)	1,466,000	2005
2	Germany	916,400	2006 est.
3	China	777,900	2006 est.
4	United Kingdom	603,000	2006 est.
5	France	529,100	2006 est.
6	Japan	524,100	2006 est.
7	Italy	445,600	2006 est.
8	Netherlands	373,800	2006 est.
9	Canada	353,200	2006 est.
10	Belgium	333,500	2006 est.
—	Hong Kong	329,800	2006 est.
11	Spain	324,400	2006 est.
12	South Korea	309,300	2006 est.
13	Mexico	253,100	2006 est.
14	Singapore	246,100	2006 est.
15	Taiwan	205,300	2006 est.
16	India	187,900	2006 est.
17	Russia	171,500	2006 est.
18	Switzerland	162,300	2006 est.
19	Sweden	151,800	2006 est.
20	Austria	134,300	2006 est.
21	Australia	127,700	2006 est.
22	Malaysia	127,300	2006 est.
23	Turkey	120,900	2006 est.
24	Thailand	119,300	2006 est.
25	Poland	113,200	2006 est.

List of countries by imports, based on The World Factbook.

Helpful Exporting Links and Documents

US Import Requirements Pamphlet
This pamphlet is intended as a general explanation of import requirements for a person interested in establishing an importing business or a person who may be importing something for personal use only

www.customs.gov/

www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Import_Information/index.asp
FSIS policies and procedures assuring that U.S. imported meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, properly labeled and packaged.