The Government Guide to a World of Exporting

September 28, 2016

If you’re a small or medium-sized business—start-up, mature, or somewhere in between—and you’re looking to expand your international market share and bottom line, there’s a U.S. Government guide that breaks down the basics of exporting.

a-basic-guide-to-exporting-11th-editionGPO makes available the latest edition of A Basic Guide to Exporting. It’s a work of the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) U.S. Commercial Service, a functionary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This book has been around for 70 years, and it continues to give companies information they need to “gain the confidence to become an international sensation.”

U.S. companies are exporting more than ever before. According to the ITA, “in 2013, more than 300,000 small and medium-sized U.S. companies exported to at least one international market.” That has a lot to do with the fact that 96 percent of the world’s consumers exist outside of the U.S. Now is a great time for U.S. companies to go global.

This U.S. Commercial Service resource provides U.S. companies, especially first-time exporters, with in-depth advice and real-life success stories. It deals with complex issues head-on and “challenges…assumptions about engaging in the world of international business.” In addition to A Basic Guide to Exporting, the U.S. Commercial Service offers trade counseling, market intelligence, commercial diplomacy and help connecting with potential international partners—a sort of business matchmaking service.

dockIn A Basic Guide to Exporting, exporters can find strategic advice on how to:

  • Identify markets for products
  • Create an export plan
  • Finance your export transactions
  • Handle orders and shipments
  • Get free or low-cost government export counseling
  • Sell abroad through e-commerce
  • Finance export transactions
  • Prepare for legal issues

Yes, exporting abroad is tremendously more complicated than selling domestically. But thanks to official U.S. government resources and services, the process is easier than ever before. The world is truly open for U.S. business!

HOW DO I OBTAIN THIS PUBLICATION?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Chelsea Milko is a Public Relations Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations Office.

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Posted by Trudy Hawkins

What the U.S. Government Can Tell You About Business

February 25, 2016

The last week of February is National Entrepreneurship Week. Entrepreneurs are a mainstay of the American economy. By many estimates, the U.S. is home to nearly 30 million of them. Now, more than ever, the enticement of competitive advantage abroad is driving their business expansion plans. The global marketplace is truly open for American business!

For companies looking to expand their international consumer base, the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service has two publications for your must-read list.

Free Trade Agreements: 20 Ways to Grow Your Business

003-300-00005-6The U.S. has Free Trade Agreements (FTA) in force with 20, count ‘em 20, countries. In the simplest term, that means tariff-free market access for American firms and economic growth for the U.S. The list of benefits to company and country is vast. FTA partners “form the basis of a sound export strategy for U.S. companies seeking to increase international sales by entering multiple markets.”

This fact book promotes lucrative opportunities in all 20 nations, especially in high-growth emerging economies. Each country section includes insights on market entry strategy, leading sectors, investment climate, and business customs. You can really nerd out with the cool geo-economic facts that abound. For example, Korea is the 7th largest export partner with the U.S. and the U.S. supplies over 50 percent of Honduran imports. Full-page conversations with Senior Commercial Officers at each U.S. Embassy are an anecdotal compliment to the economic analysis. For any U.S. company hankering to use FTAs to generate new business, this is the actionable resource for you.

Exporters! The Wit and Wisdom of Small Businesspeople Who Sell Globally

Start packing those shipping containers, exporters! Here’s an eBook with an unambiguous title and lots of global market-connecting real talk. As a top exporter, the U.S. prioritizes export promotion policies that make it easier for companies to sell worldwide. Yet only a scant percentage of small-sized businesses actually export their products and services.

003-009-00742-9This publication offers testimonials from ordinary businesspeople who have survived—and profitably thrived—in the “exporting ecosystem.” Their oral histories express lessons learned in international client relations, U.S. manufactural advantages, removing fear of competition, and using U.S. government assistance programs. One company exec who oversees international marketing for a water-free urinal absorption technology tells the tale of launching international sales. A Nebraska-based leader in nonmedical senior citizen care discusses franchisee experience in Asia. And the Chief Marketing Officer of a prefab fiberglass dome manufacturer shares a vision of expanding into rural, developing markets.

The stories are frank, enlightening, and ripe for small business growth applications. They demonstrate that it is possible to work with U.S. government agencies to grow an export business.  From the perspective of both publications, it’s plain to see that focusing on U.S. small business exports is good government and good business.

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Our guest blogger is Chelsea Milko, Public Relations Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations Office.

 

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Posted by Trudy Hawkins

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