Globalization has made international trade more essential than ever to the health of our economy. If your small business is interested in exporting or importing products or services, learn about the laws, agencies and trade organizations that can help lead to successful ventures in international commerce.
Licenses
The Department of Commerce provides
comprehensive information on licensing requirements for participating in international
trade. They have an online
application process, SNAP (Simplified Network Applications Process), which allows
registered users to submit export and reexport license applications, and request
commodity classifications, and agricultural
license exception notices through a single and secure Web site.
Shipping Documents
Commercial Invoice
This document is required for exporting and includes all the terms of sale. The commercial invoice must conform exactly to letters of credit, including misspellings and foreign languages. Product descriptions, prices, weights and other information must follow requirements specified by the target country.Bill of Lading
Shipping companies or freight forwarders usually provide a bill of lading.Insurance Certificates
Exporters need these certificates if the terms of sale include cost, insurance and freight(CIF).Certificates of Origin
These are official documents that many Arab and Latin American countries require. Consulates generally sell the forms, which are then filled out in the language stipulated. For an additional fee, the consul stamps them to make them legal documents.Certificates of Origin
Although these usually appear on the invoice, many countries require a separate certificate of origin.Certificates of inspection
These consist of either an affidavit or a certificate from an official government agency or independent inspection company.Dock Receipts
These are necessary when the exporter is not directly responsible for transporting goods to a foreign destination or otherwise needs to prove that the goods have been delivered to a port for further disposition by the importer.Shipper's Export Declaration (SED)
Exporters may be required to file a SED when taking commercial goods out of the United States.
Restrictions
Exporters are prohibited from doing business with customers who are located in an
embargoed country, on the list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN), on the
Table of Denial Orders (TDO), or are involved with the production of nuclear,
chemical or biological weapons. For current information, visit the
International Trade Administration Web site.
Useful Resources
EU Business
Information about Europe and business opportunities there.
Export.gov
Export.gov is the portal to all export-related assistance and market information
offered by the federal government. Whether you're looking for trade leads, free
export counseling, or help with the export process, Export.gov is your first step
in growing your international sales.
Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN)
ELAN is a program under which lawyers from the Federal Bar Association and other
interested professional associations volunteer to provide initial legal consultations
free of charge to companies making their first entry into the export market. Contact
an SBA international trade officer or the ELAN coordinator for your region to
arrange a meeting.
International Trade Administration (ITA)
The ITA site enables Web users to find trade partners, view trade statistics and access
other information.
JurisInternational
Created by the International Trade Center with the Universities of Montreal and
Nancy, this database offers 30,000 pages of basic legal documents (treaties, model
contracts and arbitration rules)related to international trade.
Trade and Investment Reports
Global marketing research information from Industry Canada. Site may be viewed in English or French.
Here are a collection of links to local and regional government sites worldwide with useful information for businesses.
Country Specific:
Australia
Canada
Germany
India
Israel
Japan
Russia
United Kingdom
