Trade Assistance Programs and Services

The U.S. Government offers a wide range of export assistance programs and services, and most state governments provide similar support to resident exporters. Government assistance focuses primarily on how-to counseling, trade information, matchmaking, trade promotion, and trade finance.

Federal Export Assistance Programs and Services

Matchmaking

• Specific trade leads by product and/or country are available from DOC/ITA’s Trade Opportunity Program (TOP). The leads are screened and reported daily by U.S. commercial staff in each country.

• DOC/ITA’s customized International Partner Search looks for qualified overseas representatives for U.S. firms. U.S. embassy officers conduct the search and prepare a report identifying up to six foreign prospects that have examined the U.S. firm's product literature and expressed interest in representing the U.S. firm's products.

• DOC/ITA’s Gold Key Matching Services assist U.S. firms conducting business trips abroad. The service includes embassy orientation briefings, market research, introductions to potential partners, interpreter service for meetings, and assistance in developing a sound market strategy and effective follow-up.

• DOC/ITA’s International Company Profiles provide key details about a specified foreign firm – reputability, financial status, references, recommendation – to assess their suitability as a potential trading partner for U.S. firms.

Market Promotion/Trade Events

• DOC/ITA’s Commercial News USA (CNUSA) promoting U.S. products and services worldwide through a magazine and a companion on-line service. Each listing provides brief product information and a photo, with links to the company’s E-mail address and Web site.

• DOC/ITA’s Trade Missions "match" U.S. firms with prospective agents, distributors, and other potential business partners in selected countries Delegation members travel to each country and benefit from export counseling, interpreter service and logistics support, market research, in-depth market briefings, and a personalized itinerary of business appointments screened by commercial specialists at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

• DOC/ITA’s Catalog Exhibitions display product catalogs, brochures, and other graphic sales tools of U.S. firms in selected countries. Catalog exhibitors receive sales leads and a list of all foreign buyers attending the event.

• DOC/ITA’s Certified Trade Fairs program places U.S. firms in pavilions at leading international trade shows and provides services ranging from advance promotion to booth set-up help and other on-site assistance for U.S. exhibitors.

• DOC/ITA’s International Buyer Program supports selected leading U.S. trade shows in industries with high export potential. Commerce helps recruit delegations of foreign buyers to attend the event and assists U.S. firms in matching their products, marketing objectives, and geographic targets with the needs of the international business visitors.

Export Financing

• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Exim) offer pre-export financing for firms that need up-front working capital to fill foreign orders. Exim also offers buyer financing for foreign purchasers of U.S. products, as well as export credit insurance for open account sales.

• SBA’s Export Express Program helps small businesses defray costs of overseas promotion, including costs to participate in foreign trade shows, conduct market research, translate their product brochures or catalogues.

• USDA/FAS offers several financing programs specifically for agricultural exports. The Supplier Credit Guarantee Program insures short-term, open account financing. The Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) Facility Guarantee Program (FGP) provides payment guarantees to facilitate the financing of U.S. manufactured goods and services that would improve or establish agriculture-related facilities in emerging markets. CCC’s Export Credit Guarantee Programs encourage exports to buyers in countries where credit is necessary to maintain or increase U.S. sales, but where financing may not be available without CCC guarantees.