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INTERNATIONAL TRADE: GOVERNMENT SOURCES


Bureau of Customs & Border Protection (BCBP)

•  A division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
•  Enforces laws/policies regarding border security, travel, export/import policies
•  "Import" links to information/regulations regarding duty rates, international agreements, "informed compliance" and related issues
•  "Export" links to information/regulations regarding licenses/requirements, "Automated Export System (AES)," related issues
•  Online forms included
•  Also includes information about BCBP's activities, initiatives, news, publications
•  The official federal site for customs administration


Export-Import Bank of the United States (EIB)

•  EIB is the primary federal agency for "... the financing of U.S. goods and services, turning export opportunities into real transactions; ... assume[s] credit and country risks the private sector is unable or unwilling to accept"
•  Targets its services to specific audiences: "U.S. Exporters," "International Buyers," "Lenders," "General Public"
•  Provides information on EIB's initiatives/programs, including "City State Marketing Initiative," "Strategic Marketing Alliance"
•  "Useful Links" to trade-related federal agencies, banks/finance, company information, international trade organizations, news
•  "News & Events" include information on EIB's conferences, calendar, events, speeches, publications
•  Best official source for information of federal financial assistance for exports/imports


Foreign Trade Statistics

•  Maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division
•  Provides data and information on a variety of U.S. trade issues
•  "Statistics" links to "Product Trade Data," "State Export Data," and "Country Data" for export/import/balance of trade statistics for 240 countries (many of which are lesser-known)
•  "Regulations" links to basic trade regulations/procedures, "final rules," Federal Register notices and related information
•  "Reference" links codes, FAQs, online forms and a guide to navigating the site
•  Also includes instructions on utilizing the "Automated Export System (AES)"
•  This site is one of the quickest sites to access official trade data on countries


International Trade Administration (ITA)

•  An affiliated agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the ITA "... is here to help ... U.S. businesses participate fully in the growing global marketplace"
•  "Key Links" to 16 sectors of international trade, including export/import, "trade advocacy," "compliance," and related issues
•  "Export.gov" is "... the portal to all export related assistance and market information offered by the federal government"
•  "TradeStats Express" links to "... the latest trade data" (national and state), and allows the user to "... retrieve, visualize, analyze, print, download your customized output"
•  "Trade and Industry Data" links to "Trade and Economy: Data and Analysis," with 12 areas of trade data by industry sector, state exports, metropolitan area exports and related trade indices
•  "Site Help" is very useful for navigating the site for maximum benefit
•  Also includes information on ITA's initiatives, policies, "New Developments and Updates"
•  One of the best official sites for accessing up-to-date trade data and for finding assistance on utilizing federal resources for trade


International Trade: Background Information for Foreign Trade

•  Maintained by the Arts & Sciences Libraries, State University of New York at Buffalo
•  This library guide examines Internet, print and database/CD-ROM resources on international trade
•  Resource categories include the following: "Key Government Agencies," "Code Classifications," "Trade Environment and Markets," "Trade Contracts," "Trade Statistics," "Trade Procedures and Regulations"
•  Links are primarily to federal government[al] sites, with a limited number of trade-related international organizations; excellent annotations accompany links
•  Print resources should be available in many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Databases/CD-ROMs are restricted to the SUNY at Buffalo academic community; they may be available at many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Outstanding; one of the best academic library guides to resources in this area; annotations are among the best available


Office of International Trade

•  Maintained by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
•  "The Office of International Trade works in cooperation with other federal agencies and public- and private-sector groups to encourage small business exports and to assist small businesses seeking to export"
•  Sponsors "U.S. Export Assistance Centers" in 20 metropolitan areas; these centers offer advice/assistance to small businesses from the SBA, Department of Commerce, Export-Import Bank and "... other public and private organizations"
•  "General Export Information and Development Assistance" links to other SBA sites with trade-related information: publications, state export data, legal issues, "Trade Links"
•  "Trade Links" links to over 120 sites in 17 categories, including government agencies, trade organizations, publications, trade shows
•  The best official site for those seeking advice/assistance for expanding small businesses into the international arena


Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)

•  "The U.S. Trade Representative is America's chief trade negotiator and the principal trade advisor to the President; ... responsible for developing and implementing trade policies which promote world growth and create new opportunities for American businesses, workers and agricultural producers"
•  "WTO & Multilateral Affairs" links to international trade organizations (WTO, OECD, FTAA, APEC) and agreements (NAFTA); USTR provides commentary on various aspects of some of these organizations
•  "World Regions" link to information on regional trade agreements/initiatives, trade issues/disputes, country profiles
•  "Monitoring & Enforcement" deals with dispute resolution (WTO, NAFTA) and related issues
•  Includes short tutorial ("How to Navigate the Site")
•  Provides information on USTR's programs, publications/reports, press releases/news, employment opportunities
•  Excellent; provides an overview – and linked resources – for U.S. trade promotion activities and strategies


Trade Compliance Center (TCC)

•  An affiliated agency of the International Trade Administration (ITA), "The Trade Compliance Center helps American exporters overcome foreign trade barriers and works to ensure that foreign countries comply with their commitments to the United States"
•  "Understanding Trade Agreements" links to full-text documents of 327 trade agreements around the world (many are accompanied by guides); also searchable through the "Trade and Related Agreements" database ("TARA")
•  "Country Market Research" provides "Trade Review Summaries" (analytical reports which include data on the a country's economic environment, trade policies by sector, trade partners); most are recent, but some are from the mid-1990's; currently available for 117 countries
•  Also links to "Global Procurement Opportunities" (sales to foreign governments), updates on changes in trade regulations, "Report a Trade Barrier"
•  Welcomes feedback
•  Most useful official site for researching trade treaties and dealing with unfair practices


Trade Information

•  Maintained by Susan Xue for the University of Colorado Library, Boulder (UCLB)
•  Links to links to trade-related federal agencies, publications
•  Also links to other trade-related sites on international trade law, international trade organizations, academic/research resources
•  Also links to UCLB pages "Information on Foreign Countries and Governments," "Business and Economic Information"
•  Excellent; like other UCLB pages, this one – which is well-annotated – is a great place for an overview of "the basics"; of especially good use for anyone beginning research


U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)

•  "The USITC is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency" which has "... broad investigative powers on matters of trade;" it is "... a national resource where trade data are gathered and analyzed" and ... "provides recommendations... to the President and Congress as part of the information on which U.S. trade policy is based"
•  "NOT a policymaking body... NOT a court of law... does NOT negotiate trade agreements"
•  Chief "watchdog" agency for researching fair-trade policies (especially in regards to imports into the U.S.; serves in an advisory capacity
•  Links to "Trade Resources (external links)" for information on industry, trade assistance, country/regional information
•  Includes information regarding USITC's initiatives, policies, resources, news, publications, events
•  Best official source for researching and determining fair-trade issues


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh, 6/04; links last checked 1/08

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