Helpful Resources Across the Government
Leverage the federal government’s trade promotion, financing, and strategic planning capabilities to help your U.S. business identify and seize exporting opportunities and overcome any challenges you face in establishing business relationships outside the United States.
MBDA Export Centers
The MBDA Export Centers provides technical assistance and business development services to generate increased financing, contract opportunities, and greater access to new and global markets for minority business enterprises (MBEs). The Centers are also designed to help identify, screen, promote, and refer MBEs to exporting resources, and to engage in and/or expand exporting.
Sacramento Export Center
Chicago Export Center
Miami Export Center
San Antonio Export Center
State International Trade Offices
Several states have trade offices located in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Each office is staffed with experienced business professional ready to help your business expand globally.
» View Your State's International Trade Offices
Strategic Planning Support
Department of State
The Department of State is the lead US foreign affairs agency, and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy adviser. The Department advances US objectives and interests in shaping a freer, more secure, and more prosperous world through its primary role in developing and implementing the President's foreign policy.
The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs formulates and carries out U.S. foreign economic policy, integrating U.S. economic interests with our foreign policy goals so that U.S. firms and investors can compete on an equal basis with their counterparts overseas. It implements American economic policy in cooperation with U.S. companies, U.S. Government agencies, and other organizations.
» View a directory of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) works to improve foreign market access for U.S. products, build new markets, improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace, and provide food aid and technical assistance to foreign countries.
FAS has the primary responsibility for USDA’s international activities—market development, trade agreements and negotiations, and the collection and analysis of statistics and market information. FAS also administers USDA’s export credit guarantee and food aid programs and helps increase income and food availability in developing nations by mobilizing expertise for agriculturally led economic growth.
FAS also enhances U.S. agriculture’s competitiveness by providing linkages to global resources and international organizations.
International Trade Administration
The International Trade Administration's lead business unit for trade promotion is the U.S. Commercial Service which supports U.S. businesses through its global network of offices. The U.S. Commercial Service offers four ways to grow your international sales:
- world-class market research
- trade events that promote your product or service to qualified buyers
- introductions to qualified buyers and distributors
- counseling through every step of the export process
For more information about how they worldwide network can help your company, call 1-800-USA-TRADE or contact the Export Assistance Centers.
U.S. Census Bureau
The U.S. Census Bureau –Foreign Trade Division is the official source for U.S. export and import statistics and responsible for issuing regulations governing the reporting of all export shipments from the United States. If you're searching for import or export statistics, information on export regulations, commodity classifications, or a host of other trade-related topics, this is the place to get the information you need.
U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.
United States Trade Representative
The Office of the United States Trade Representative is an agency of over 200 people, a highly committed group of professionals who have decades of specialized experience in trade issues and regions of the world. They negotiate directly with foreign governments to create trade agreements, resolve disputes and participate in global trade policy organizations. They also meet with governments, business groups, legislators and public interest groups to gather input on trade issues and explain the president’s trade policy positions.
Export Finance Assistance
Export-Import Bank
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank enables U.S. companies — large and small — to turn export opportunities into real sales that help to maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national economy.
The Bank is working diligently to increase the number of small businesses exporting goods and services. In fact, about 85% of all transactions directly benefit U.S. small businesses. The agency supports U.S. exporters by providing working capital loan guarantees (pre-export financing to fulfill sales orders) and export credit insurance (to extend credit terms to foreign buyers and protect against nonpayment). It also provides support for foreign buyers to obtain competitive financing to purchase U.S. capital goods and services. No transaction is too large or too small for Ex-Im Bank.
Press Release: The U.S. Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) announced a Global Outreach Alliance during the National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference on December 6, 2012
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
Overseas Private Investment Corporation 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.
Enterprise Development Network (EDN) is a strategic alliance among public and private sector organizations that was established with the assistance of OPIC.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
The Small Business Administration is the only independent agency of the federal government with the sole mission of assisting small businesses to start, grow and prosper. SBA offers loan guaranty programs that enable the small business exporter to obtain working capital to finance pre- and post-shipment needs, increase global competitiveness, enhance their ability to export a product or service and financing for the acquisition of long-term fixed assets.