TRADE WEBSITES AND RESOURCES


China Coal, Mining and Methane:  Recorded Version:  July 2008

USDOC 2008 Trade Finance Guide

Export 101 for Entrepreneurs (2008)

Business Plan for Pre-Export Finance Working Capital Loan
 

Virginia Asia Chamber of Commerce Alliance
 

Everything International

Economic Impact of International Imports

USDOC Trade Information Center 
 

"Trade Roots: U.S. Chamber of Commerce"
http://www.traderoots.org

 

Thunderbird International Business Information Centre 

"U.S. Dept. of Commerce Export Promotion Site"
http://www.export.gov
 

"In Defense of Free Trade"
Speech by Former Gov. Gerald L. Baliles of Virginia
Richmond Export-Import Club, May 26,2004
Courtesy of "Bacon's Rebellion", June 7, 2004
 

Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb]

 

The Basics of Exporting
 

The Export Yellow Pages
 

E Commerce Presentation Dr. France Belanger VA Tech June 2004

Virginia Newswire

Market Research

Best Prospect for Coal Mining Equipment in China

Links

Virginia Newswire

Abbreviations - Find out the meanings of the abbreviations that follow foreign company names (AG, GmbH, N.V., SpA, S.A., etc.) This website explains what they mean and will help to understand what kind of a business entity you may be dealing with in your export transactions.

www.corporateinformation.com/definitions.html

Advertising - Information on magazines that will advertise your product worldwide.

www.Worldbizmedia.com

Aerospace & Defense Industry Abroad  - Market research, trade leads, and events

www.oceac.com/AME

Africa - Doing Business in Africa - Directory of suppliers, agents, and distributors in Africa

www.africa-business.com

Agency for International Development (AID) - U.S. Dept. State

www.info.usaid.gov

APEC Tariff Database:

http://www.apectariff.org/tdb.cgi/ff3237363638/apeccgi.cgi

Ask Jeeves :  Ask questions regarding things you are searching for.

http://www.ask.com/

Animal Plant Health Inspection Service – U.S. Dept Agriculture:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov

AT&T International - Country & City Telephone Calling Codes

http://www.att.com/traveler/tools/codes.html

Asia – Features exclusive news on the Asian Region.

www.channelnewsasia.com

Australia – An Australian government site if you’re interested in doing business in Australia

www.austrade.gov.au

Australia – Australian Trade Community Magazine

www.australiantradecommunity.com

Automotive

          USDOC - Office of Automotive Affairs - www.ita.doc.gov/td/auto/

          Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association - www.aftermarket.org

                Motor & Equipment Mfgs. Assoc. - www.mema.org

                Specialty Equipment Market Assoc. - www.sema.org

          Automotive Service Assoc. - www.asashop.org

Society of Automotive Engineers World-Wide Supplier       Directory - www.wwsd/index.html

                Automotive Parts Rebuilders Assoc. - www.apra.org

                European Automobile Mfgs. Assoc. -    www.acea.be

          Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week - http://aaiwshow.com

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) - (Formerly BXA) – Export Licensing Regulations:

http://www.bis.doc.gov/

-          SNAP(Simplified Net-work Application Process) An electronic means to apply and track license applications. A PIN number must be obtained prior to using SNAP.

-          www.bis.doc.gov/SNAP/BasicSNAPInformation.html

Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (Former USSR):

http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/

Business Plans - Sample plans including export & import which can be viewed for free.

www.bplans.com

Canada - The Canadian Embassy website in Washington - Business resources, detailed information on Canadian companies, plus links to directories, government sites, business guides, banks, etc.

www.canadianembassy.org/reference/business-e.asp

Canada – The Atlas of Canada – Interesting Facts about Canada presented as reference maps.  Demographic maps of populations, age, and other parameters.

http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/index.html

Canadian Shipping Documents - Blank forms such as the Canada Customs Invoice (CCI) and other Canadian forms can be printed from these websites

www.aacb.com/forms/pdf/cci.pdf    (Canada Customs Invoice)

www.aacb.com/forms/index.htm     (Other Canadian Forms)

Canada Customs - Information on shipping, traveling and importing goods into Canada.

www.ccra.gc.ca

Canada Customs Tariff Schedule

www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/customs/general/publications/menu-e.html

Carnet – A passport for your merchandise.  A document that simplifies customs procedures for the temporary importation of goods (trade shows, events, etc.).  Use this website to find out more information and what countries recognize a Carnet.

www.atacarnet.com

www.uscib.org/index.asp

www.iccwbo.org/ata/en/findcost.asp

Caribbean & Latin America – Guia Export – A Business to Business Directory for Latin America & the Caribbean by Bell South.

www.guiaexport.com

CE (Conformity Europeans) Marking & Standards in Europe

Product Legislation

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/policy_en.htm

http://www.ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/217/export-alert.htm

CE Mark Legislation

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/newapproach/legislation/guide/legislation.htm

http://www.newapproach.org/directivelist.asp

Cell Phone - Global wireless solutions for travelers in over 140 countries.

http://fita.globalfone.com

Central and Eastern Europe Business Information Center (CEEBIC) – An array of services for expanding into Central and Eastern European markets.

www.export.gov/ceebic

Dictionary of International Trade Terms

 http://www.itds.treas.gov/glossaryfrm.html

European Standards

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/newapproach/standardization/harmstds/reflist/implmedd.html

http://www.newapproach.org/directivelist.asp

http://www.cenorm.be/catweb

EU Notified Bodies

http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/newapproach/legislation/nb/listnotifiedbodies.pdf

Other Test Laboratories

http://www.ts.nist.gov/ca

http://www.ticqa.eotc.be

Cellular Phones for Global Rental - Wireless cellular phones for rental to global business travelers - InTouch USA

www.intouchglobal.com

CIA - The World Factbook

http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

Ciber’s International Business Resources:

http://ciber.bus.msu.edu/busres.htm

Congress:

www.congress.gov

Conversions - Measurements & Weights

www.library.wwu.edu/ref/Refhome/refmeasure.htm

Converter - Mega Converter - Inches into millimeters, pounds into Kilograms, etc.

www.megaconverter.com/Mega2

Cost of Living Worldwide - Survey shows the 25 most expensive cities in the world.

www.finfacts.com/costofliving.htm

Credit Reporting Service:  International Credit Reports for a nominal fee.

www.owens.com

Company Information - Detailed information on private & public companies worldwide.  Some free information and detailed information is available for a fee.

www.skyminder.com/default.asp

Cuba - U.S. allows agricultural exports & expands health-care, medical devices, and medicines.

www.fas.usda.gov/itp/cuba/title_ix.html

Currency Converter (Exchange Rates):

http://www.xe.net/ucc/

Defense Trade Control (DTC) - U.S. Dept. State (export licensing for munitions/military items)

www.pmdtc.org

Duty Rates - For Most Countries - Also see APEC Tariff Database

www.tradeinfo.doc.gov

Electricity - Worldwide characteristics of electric current and the type of attachment plugs used in most countries.

www.50hz.com/pwchrt1.htm

Embassies - Foreign Embassies in Washington, D.C.

www.embassy.org

Emerging Markets - Background information on countries that are

making an effort to change and improve their level of economy.

www.emdirectory.com

Etiquette - Corporate gift-giving, culture, dining entertainment, how to dress, etc.

www.windowontheworldinc.com/countryprofile/index.html

Etiquette - A valuable reference tool for people doing business internationally.

www.the-bag-lady.co.uk

Etiquette - International Business Practices

www.worldbiz.com

Etiquette - "One country's good manners, anothers insult"

http://cbpa.louisville.edu/management/mgmt325/wed/eleven.htm

Etiquette - "How to Conduct Yourself in business settings in dozens of countries."

www.executiveplanet.com/community/default.asp

Euro - This site will answer questions about the Euro.

http://europa.eu.int/euro/html/home5.html?lang=5

Europe - Europages - A great business portal to Europe.

www.europages.com

Europe (Showcase) - Marketing Information

www.sce.doc.gov

Europe - U.S./European Trade - Database for potential partners

www.tasbi.com

European Union (EU) Procurement Opportunities - A database that features all current public procurement tenders issued by all national and regional public authorities in the 15 Member States of the EU.

www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion

Exporting Information - Basic guidelines, tutorials, and other resources.

www.rexco.com/the500/by_experts.htm

www.tradeport.org

Export Handbook - Journal of Commerce website - Export documents, Steamship Lines Directory, NVOCC's Directory, Domestic Ports, Associations, Glossary of Intl Terms.

www.joc.com/handbook

Export Marketing - Information on marketing, management, letters of credit, export cargo insurance, shipping, logistics, etc.

www.export911.com/index.ht

Federal Trade Commission - Business Guidance icon for "Made in USA" information

www.ftc.gov

First Gov - Allows computer users to search approximately 27 million govt web pages for free.

www.firstgov.gov

Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) – U.S. Dept Agriculture:

http://www.fas.usda.gov/

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)

www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa

www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/fcp.htm

Foreign Exchange Rates – Currency Library – Exchange & Interest Rates

www.exchange-rates.net

Foreign Trade Barriers – U.S. Government reports on foreign trade barriers

www.ustr.gov/reports/nte/2003/index.htm

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)– U.S. Dept. State

www.treas.gov/ofac

Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTTA)

www.alca-ftaa.org

Hemispheric Database (FTAA) – Tariff Information/Trade Statistics for countries in North or South America

http://198.186.239.122

Geography - Tons of geographical resources

www.geography.about.com

Gestures/Body Language/Cultures

www.webofculture.com/worldsmart/gestures.asp

Glossarist - This site lists 4500 glossaries containing details of terms & terminology for international trade, shipping, transportation, packaging, finance and many more useful subjects.

www.glossarist.com/gsearch.asp

Hazardous Materials for Export - Several useful sites for exporting hazardous materials

http://hazmat.dot.gov/hazhome.htm

Hazardous/Dangerous Goods Online Information - The International Air Transport Association (IATA)

http://www.iata.org/cargo/dg/index.htm

Holidays – Worldwide – Search by country, date, and religion

www.earthcalendar.net

Holidays & Festivals - Worldwide - Alphabetically by country

www.shagtown.com/days

Holidays - Religious Holidays Worldwide

www.interfaithcalendar.org

Holidays - Christmas Customs in Countries Around the World.  How People in a Certain Region of the World Celebrate Christmas.

www.christmas.com/worldview

Hotels and Guides Worldwide - In over 140 of the world's most popular cities.

www.worldexecutive.com/cityguides

Hotels - Planning an overseas trip and need names of hotels.  This site is simple & elegant.  Just type in the name of a city or country and you'll get a list of hotels to review.

www.hootle.com

INCOTERMS - What are they?  Provides ordering information.

www.Incoterms-4-Americans.com

International Chamber of Commerce

www.iccwbo.org

International Trade Terms – Definitions of trade terms written in layman’s terms

www.itds.treas.gov/glossaryfrm.html

Iran - U.S. Export Controls for shipments to Iran

www.treas.gov/ofac

Iraq – Rebuilding of Iraq – U.S. Dept. Commerce site for information on business opportunities

www.export.gov/iraq

 Iraq: Key Website and Contacts

Japan - Doing Business in Japan

www.business-in-japan.net/japan.htm

Jobs - Overseas - Postings for jobs all over the world

www.globalcareercenter.com

Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts:

http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/contacts/keyofficer_index.html

Kompass International Trade Directory (Contacts):

www.kompass.com

Maps/Travel Planning - Maps to help in organizing trips

www.maporama.com

Market Research Information - Country specific - statistics, average worker's salary, tax information and a list of public holidays.

www.interex.be/home.asp?

Medical - MEDJET assistance is an annual membership program for U.S. based travelers that provides medical transportation to its members should they become hospitalized due to accident or illness virtually anywhere in the world.

www.fita.org/travel/medjetdescript.htm

Mercosur - Latin America - Database of exporters

www.latinexport

www.idrc.ca/lacro/investigacion/mercosur.html

NAICS - Site contains all the new NAICS codes which replaced the former SIC codes - Effective October 1, 2000

www.ntis.gov/product/naics.htm

NAFTA Certificate of Origin Interactive Tool (Will Walk you through the process)

http://web.ita.doc.gov/ticwebsite/ticit.nsf

NAFTA – Annex 401 Rules of Origin to Determine if a Tariff Shift or Regional Value Content (RVC) Exists

http://www.sice.oas.org/trade/nafta/anx401A1.asp

www.nafta-customs.org

Click on NAFTA Topics

Click on Annex 401

Click on United States Flag

Click on Annex 401 of the NAFTA (Updated)

News - Information on what's happening in countries around the world.  Links to current news in that country.

www.foreignwire.com

Nigerian Scams - To verify if the inquiry is a scam use (1) website below.  If you are still not sure, call Doug Wallace - USDOC - Washington, D.C. (Tel: 202/482-5149) for guidance.  Once you have determined it's not legitimate, report it as an "advanced fee fraud" to your local branch of the U.S. Secret Service.  To locate the nearest branch office use (2) website below.

(1)   http://travel.state.gov/tips_nigeria.html

(2)   www.treasury.gov/usss/

Nigeria - Country information and information on Nigerian companies.

www.infonigeria.com

Patents and Trademarks

www.uspto.gov

PIERS (Port Import Export Reporting Service) - Global cargo movements transiting seaports in the U.S., Mexico and South America to and from the World.  This is a "pay-per-view" tool.

www.fita.org/marketplace/piers.html

Port Authorities – American Association of Port Authorities

www.aapa-ports.org

Pre-Shipment Inspection - (SGS) - www.sgsgroup.com

http://tradeinfo.doc.gov/FAQs.nsf

Research - In-depth research on a country. Provides websites that have maps, geology resources, travel guides, political reports, and more.

www.bubl.ac.uk/link/five/wor.html

Research - Where to do research.  Easy-to-use page of 54 categories.

www.wheretodoresearch.com

Scams/Blacklist - On the homepage, left hand side - click on Important Fraud Notice to obtain information on scams and sample scams.

www.eceurope.com

Scams/Fraud - National Fraud Information Center/Quatloos

www.fraud.org/welcome.htm

www.quatloos.com

The TOP 10 Net Scams of 2001

http://moneycentral.msn.com/articles/smartbuy/dollarwise/8080.asp?special=msn

Schedule B – Harmonized System Number – Bureau of Census – Foreign Trade Division (FTD) – Search Engine:

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/

Shipper's Export Declaration Form 7525-V (7-25-2000) & the Continuation Sheet

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/regulations/forms/index.html

Statistics - A site that allows you to compare various characteristics of any two countries (birth rate, populations, exports, land area, literacy, etc.

www.your-nation.com

Statistics – Statistics and useful facts about the world (What country has the most televisions? Most educated people)?

www.nationmaster.com

Tax Resources - Free tax resources for countries worldwide

www.taxresources.com/html/taxsites/foreign.html

Time - World Time provided for most countries along with a map of the country.

www.worldtimeserver.com

Trade Barriers - Capsule reports on trade conditions in dozens of countries.

http://www.ustr.gov/reports/nte/2000/contents.html

Trade Finance - Commercial Banking's Global Trade Finance "Crash Course" in international payment transactions.

www.tdcommercialbanking.com/tradefinance/index.html

Trade Information Center – U.S. Dept. Commerce

http://tradeinfo.doc.gov

Trade Leads - On-Line

www.dreammart.com

Trade-World Business Directories:

http://web.idirect.com/~tiger/exportdr.htm

Trade Show Resources – Detailed information on trade shows and who to contact.

www.fita.org/tshows.html

www.go-events.com

Trade Show Sites – Trade Show Central, Expo Guide, USDOC Events:

http://www.tscentral.com

http://www.expoguide.com

http://www.ita.doc.gov/uscs/uscsibp.html

Translations - Foreign Language For Travelers

www.travlang.com/languages/

Translations - Free translations - Easy to use site for rapid translations where you can get the "gist" of foreign language text & web pages.

www.freetranslations.com

Travel and Health Requirements:

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm

Travel Warnings - U.S. State Department:

www.travel.state.gov

Travel - Road Maps in Europe - Also, provides maps of specific towns and will help you plan an itinerary including booking a hotel and choosing a restaurant.

www.mappy.com

Travel - Women - "The Traveling Woman" - Great Tips for Safe & Healthy Trips.

www.travelingsafe.com

Travel - This site allows you to book a flight or hotel room, reserve a car research a city, check out cruise & golf packages, buy trip insurance and more.

www.your-travelsite.com

U.S. Commercial Service – USATrade Websites:

www.usatrade.gov

www.trade.gov

www.export.go

U. S. Dept. Commerce – Key Contacts:

http://www.ita.doc.gov/ita_home/contacts.htm

U.S. Customs Service - The Harmonized Tariff Schedule is on this site along with information on importing and obtaining duty rates.

www.customs.gov

Ultimate Directory – Government Information:

http://www.infospace.com/info.www/index_gov.htm

United Kingdom – If interested in marketing your product(s) or services to the U.K., this is an excellent place to start.  This is a British Government sponsored website and is free.

www.tradeuk.com

U.S. Dept. State:

http://www.state.gov/

U.S. Export-Import Bank:

www.exim.gov

U. S. Export Regulations - Bureau of Industry & Security

Export Administration Regulations Marketplace -

http://bxa.fedworld.gov

Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations -

          www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www

Free Access to the Bureau of Export Administration Regulations -

www.access.gpo.gov/bxa

Office of Defense Trade Control - www.pmdtc.org/

Office of Foreign Assets Control - www.treas.gov/ofac/

U.S. Federal Government Agencies:

http://www.lib.LSU.edu/gov/fedgov.html

U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) Trade Database – Export/Import Statistics:

http://dataweb.usitc.gov/

U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) Trade Reports – Trade Balance:

http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/Regions.asp

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA):

www.sba.gov

Vietnam - New Customs Law Effective January 1, 2002

www.customs.gov.vn

Videoconferencing - One-Stop online source for anything having to do with videoconferencing (Worldwide ISDN Rates)

http://www.Recon.net

Virtual Reference Desk - Lists all the experts, divided by subject.  For example, if you need to know about a region of the world, this site will take you to the Geography Home Page.

www.vrd.org/locator/subject.shtml

Wood Packing Regulations

          Solid Wood Packing Materials (SWPM) - China

          www.aphis.usda.gov

European Wood Packing Regulations

          www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/swp/eunmwp.html

          www.useu.be

World Telephone Numbering Guide:

http://phonebooth.interocitor.net/wtng/

Worldwide Country Information – Very good research site.  Useful information about countries around the world.

www.worldinformation.com

Yellow Pages - The Whole Wide World of Yellow Pages

www.knopfler.com/yellow/graphics.htm

 United States Department of Commerce

www.export.gov