The International Trade Blog arrow International Sales & Marketing

Eight Blogs All Exporters Should Be Reading

On: February 11, 2015    |    By: David Noah David Noah    |    4 min. read

7_Fascinating_Exporting_Blogs_You_Should_Be_ReadingWhat are you doing to be a better exporter?

Often, our day-to-day jobs are so demanding that we think there’s no time left for extras.  However, dedicating just a small bit of time each day or each week to learn more about our industry is what can set us apart from everyone else (who also happen to be just getting through each day).

One way I’ve found to do that is by keeping up with news, industry trends, upcoming events, and conversation through export blogs and newsletters. Here are eight great blogs I think you should be reading too.

1. Tradeology

If you're an exporter or a would-be exporter and you're not aware of the services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the International Trade Administration (ITA), you're really missing out on a wealth of information and resources. The official blog of the ITA is one way to plug into the services they offer including export promotion, industry competitiveness, trade, and investment information. The ITA blog publishes new articles weekly, and sometimes more than that. You can follow the Tradeology blog on its site directly or through its RSS feed.

2. Global Reach

There aren't many exporters who get away with knowing little or nothing about the Automated Export System (AES). As the official international trade blog of the Census Bureau, Global Reach is "short, sweet and to the point” when it comes to sharing tips on AES and explaining regulations in plain language. The authors also provide data on trending commodities and answer industry questions. New articles are published weekly.

3. ExportLawBlog

Attorneys Clif Burns and George Murphy of Bryan Cave discuss news- and noteworthy changes and information regarding export laws, regulations and more in this blog. New articles are posted throughout the week. You can follow the ExportLawBlog directly on its site.

4. Export Compliance Matters

In her blog, Doreen Edelman, an import/export attorney in the Washington, D.C., office of Baker Donelson, “simplifies issues, clears up confusion, and answers tricky questions” about international trade issues including compliance, exporting laws, regulations, and accountability. Edelman says in the blog’s About section, “This blog is for exporters and business executives that want to hear about business issues that affect their growth. Practical information they can use to expand their business, increase profit and minimize risk.” New articles are published on a varying schedule—usually once a month. You can subscribe to blog updates via the RSS feed or through email.

5. International Trade Law News

Published by Douglas N. Jacobson of Jacobson Burton PLLC, this blog includes focuses on export controls, sanctions, customs law, FCPA, antidumping and other international trade issues. I'd rank this blog higher in my Top 10 list of blogs if it was more frequently updated, because I appreciate the analysis that's typically included with every post.

6. Export/Import Daily Update: Daily Bugle

O.K., this really isn't a blog but an email newsletter, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't subscribe and read it. Jim Bartlett’s newsletter informs readers of changes to defense and high-tech trade laws and regulations. The Daily Bugle checks and publishes news from the Federal Register, Congressional Record, Commerce/AES, Commerce/BIS, DHS/CBP, DOJ/ATF, DoD/DSS, DoD/DTSA, State/DDTC, Treasury/OFAC, White House, and similar websites of Australia, Canada, U.K., and other countries and international organizations. The Daily Bugle’s articles are emailed every business day.

7. Customs Law Blog

This blog is really about importing rather than exporting, but I'm including it on my list for two reasons: (1) most exporters are also often at least an occasional importer, and (2) Larry Friedman writes with a strong voice and is not afraid to express an often irreverant opinion of the news he's covering. As someone who has only very limited experience with importing, I've learned more from this blog than any of the blogs I've listed above.

8. International Trade Blog

Is it bad form to mention my own blog? Probably, but I'm including it anyway because I'm not aware of any blog (including the seven listed above) that include the breadth of content included here. Updated three times a week, the blog includes more than 500 posts on topics ranging from export basics, to NAFTA and other free trade agreements, to Incoterms, to letters of credit and other ways to get paid for your international transactions. You can sign up for email updates on the main page of the blog.

Am I missing a gem? I'd love to know what blogs and newsletters you subscribe to. Leave a comment below!

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David Noah

About the Author: David Noah

David Noah is the founder and president of Shipping Solutions, a software company that develops and sells export documentation and compliance software targeted at U.S. companies that export. David is a frequent speaker on export documentation and compliance issues and has published several articles on the topic.

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