Importing: l International Trade Administration The International Trade Administration (ITA) is here to provide practical information to help you select your markets and products, ensure that you have access to international markets as required by our trade agreements and safeguard you from unfair competition from dumped and subsidized imports. l Trade Port  Designed to be an easy-to-use tool offering one place to go for comprehensive trade information, trade leads, and company databases.  Exporting: l The Bureau of Industry and Security Activities include regulating the export of sensitive goods and technologies; enforcing export control, antiboycott, and public safety laws Financing: l Small Business Association (SBA) Established in 1953 the SBA provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. l Export-Import Bank of the United States The Official Export Credit Agency of the U.S. Government U.S. Commercial Information: l Buy U.S.A.  A service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service. This is the most comprehensive source for commercial information about the United States of America and it allows you to search for commercial information as specifically and broadly as you need. l U.S. Commercial Service Offers valuable assistance to help your business export goods and services to markets worldwide. From this site you can access a global listing of trade events, international market research, and practical tools to help with every step of the export process. Let the U.S. Commercial Service help your business prosper in today's global economy. Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters The U.S. Department of Commerce has published an updated version of the Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters. This concise and easy-to-understand tool was created specifically to help U.S. small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigate the often difficult landscape of trade finance, a topic that is critical for successfully entering and succeeding in today’s increasingly competitive global marketplace. Last year’s guide was well received by the U.S. exporting community: Over 5,000 hard copies were distributed to the public and the on-line version was downloaded 20,000 times from Commerce websites. The Trade Finance Guide contains 12 two-page chapters, which offer the basics of the most commonly used financing techniques. The chapters contain short descriptions of each technique, key points and how they work. A reader-friendly, visually easy-to-comprehend chart accompanies each section and offers the reader a brief, to-the-point statement of the applicability, risks, pros and cons of each financing method. The second edition includes a new chapter on foreign exchange risk management, as well as updates to all of the other chapters. The additional content is in response to the interest expressed by a number of SMEs that wish to export more efficiently in foreign currencies by mitigating the risk of currency exchange loss. Exporters can obtain complimentary printed copies from the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E), and from the Commercial Service’s global network of domestic Export Assistance Centers and overseas posts. Meanwhile, you can download an electronic version of the Guide by clicking here. The Trade Finance Guide was created in partnership with FCIB, a prominent business educator of credit and risk management to exporting companies of every size, and in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Export–Import Bank of the United States, the International Factoring Association, and the Association of Trade & Forfaiting in the Americas. International Trade Law: l Find Law For Business Search Engine. l  International Trade Law Library A publication of TradeWinds Publishing. TradeWinds is an UNTPDC Associate and online International Trade Information site providing trade lead custom matching, discounted access to STAT-USA  and the International Trade Law Library. l Complying with Import and Export Laws This guide provides thirteen simple rules to help companies design and implement effective systems for complying with export and import laws. l Trade Compliance Center (TCC) is the U.S. Government's one-stop shop that helps American exporters facing foreign trade barriers and works to insure that "U.S. exporters receive the full benefits negotiated for them in our trade agreements with foreign nations." Embassies and Consulates: l Embassy World Search engine for Embassies & Consulates around the world.  l Online Links to Consulates in Los Angeles Bangladesh - China - Demark - Finland - France - Greece - Japan  Korea, South - Mexico - Netherlands - Philippines - Poland Romania - South Africa -  Sweden  - Thailand - Turkey  Freight Forwarders: l Forwarders.com  Directory of Freight Forwarding Services and search engine. l Los Angeles Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association  The Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association is the premier organization in Southern California for international trade, representing the common business interests of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders as professionals in dealing with government, carriers, industry and one another.  l National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc. l International Federation of Customs Brokers Association  l Global Logistics Associates General Information: l Trade Information Center  --U.S. Department of Commerce Helping Exporters find information on their products & markets overseas. To find out about all of the programs call 1-800-USA-TRADE to talk to a Trade Specialist (M-F 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. EST) or e-mail TIC@ita.doc.gov.  What can the Trade Information Center do for you? CLICK HERE for more information. l Monterey Bay International Trade Association (MBITA) MBITA is a non-profit international trade center dedicated to provide trade promotion services to the California, U.S. and foreign country business communities.  MBITA utilizes advanced Global eCommerce technologies for its clients and members to maximize global trade opportunities. l Alibaba.com The world's largest marketplace for global trade and is the leading provider of online marketing services for importers and exporters. Alibaba.com is the number one destination for buyers and sellers to find trade opportunities and promote their businesses online. l GLOBUS and NED Access this area for current and historical trade-related releases, international market research, trade opportunities, country analysis, and our trade library...the National Trade Data Bank (NTDB) a searchable database of manufacturers, resellers, and buyers around the world! l The Federation of International Trade Associations (FITA) An excellent source for trade leads, news, events, and a link library of 4,000+ sites related to international trade.  l CITD & CMTAC of Citrus College l Hong Kong Trade Development Council The Hong Kong Trade Development Council enhances your efforts to expand your business in international trade by providing marketing opportunities, business matching services, market intelligence. The Council is the global marketing arm and service hub for manufacturers, traders and importers / exporters. We have more than 40 offices around the world. Click into www.hktdc.com  for more information. l ECVV ECVV (www.ecvv.com) is one of the largest B2B (business to business) websites in the world. ECVV offers an online marketplace for global buyers and suppliers. To be a leader of the international trade information providers, ECVV helps the global buyers to source qualified products & suppliers in China and all over the world, and also helps the global suppliers to find the buyers and buying leads.   Security: l US Dept of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security