Sources of Exporting Information

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, good sources for information and advice on exporting are:

• The Small Business Exporters Association is a good starting place.
• Small Business Development Centers are always helpful.
• Small Business Institutes, which provide small business owners with intensive management counseling from qualified business students who are supervised by faculty (SBIs provide advice on a wide range of management challenges facing small businesses — including finding the best foreign markets for particular products or services.)
• Department of Commerce (The U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) International Trade Administration (ITA) is a valuable source of advice and information.)
• District Export Councils (DECs), another useful ITA-sponsored resource (The 51 District Export Councils located around the United States are comprised of 1,800 executives with experience in international trade who volunteer to help small businesses export.)
• the United States and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS) offices, which provide information on foreign markets, agent/distributor location services, trade leads and counseling on business opportunities, trade barriers and prospects abroad
• the United States Department of Agriculture (If you have an agricultural product, you should investigate the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).)
• most state commerce and economic development offices, which have international trade specialists to assist you (Many states have overseas trade offices.)
• Port Authorities, which are a wealth of export information
• private organizations such as Exporters' Associations, World Trade Centers, import-export clubs and organizations such as the American Association of Exporters and Importers and the Small Business Exporter's Association
• trade associations (The National Federation of International Trade Associations lists over 150 organizations in the U.S. to help new-to-export small businesses enter international markets. Many of these associations maintain libraries, databanks and established relationships with foreign governments to assist in your exporting efforts.)