International Trade Blog

新年快乐

Even if you can’t read the above characters, there’s a good chance their meaning is significant to you. The translation, “Happy Chinese New Year,” is a greeting shared by more than 1.3 billion Chinese citizens and millions of others across the globe who celebrate the holiday.

Chinese New Year has a significant impact on exporters because Chinese factories, ports and many other businesses in China actually close down during the holiday. Territories with significant Chinese populations, including Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius and Philippines are also affected by the holiday; production and manpower come to a halt, slowing down international trade as well.

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Do you want to go bungee jumping?

Perhaps this seems like a strange question, but stay with me. Are people who bungee jump crazy? Or are they just having fun and seeking an adrenaline rush?

No matter your opinion, the point is that bungee jumpers have assessed the risk and determined that it is acceptable.

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Becoming a successful exporter is difficult enough without countries imposing barriers on your products meant to keep them out.

Tariffs are one barrier in the news right now that make exporting your goods more difficult by increasing the cost to your international customers. But there are also non-tariff barriers that governments can implement as well that make it difficult for exporters to succeed.

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Despite its rocky start some 250 years ago, the United States’ trade history with the United Kingdom (U.K.) has blossomed into a mutually beneficial relationship—some 40,000 U.S. companies now export to the U.K. each year.

Thanks to a common language, low trade barrier, and the U.K.’s business-friendly environment, exporting to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—the countries that make up the U.K.— should continue to grow.

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Looking to break into the world’s fastest-growing economy? Then look toward India.

That’s right—by 2020, India will outrank China as the most populous country in the world. So what does the growth of this nation mean for its economy, and for exporters who may want to enter it?

Keep reading to get a look at the history of U.S. trade with India; the process of exporting to India, including documentation and compliance requirements; and the benefits and considerations for U.S. companies looking to break into the Indian market.

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The United States’ relationship with Japan is an interesting and complex one—Japan’s culture, large middle class, aging population, and turbulent economic history blend to create an environment that makes exporting to Japan both promising and, in some cases, difficult.

In this article, I’ll look at the history of U.S. trade with Japan; the process of exporting to Japan; understanding cultural complexities; documentation and compliance requirements; and the benefits and considerations for U.S. companies looking to break into the Japanese market.

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As our neighbor to the North, Canada is often the first place many U.S. exporters look to share their goods. A shared language, shared culture, and excellent economic relationship with Canada makes doing business there appealing to new and established exporters. And for good reason!

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By some measures, China is the largest economy in the world. That makes it an undeniable force in international trade.

For many small to midsize exporters in the U.S., however, the formidable giant may seem like too big a beast to conquer with a relatively small budget. But that doesn't have to be the case.

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Where should exporters turn when they need help expanding their markets and promoting their businesses internationally? One of the first places I point exporters toward is their local U.S Commercial Service office.

We talked with Meredith Bond, director of the U.S. Commercial Service’s Omaha office, who shared with us a bit more about how the Commercial Service can help exporters interested in beginning or expanding their global reach.

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The European Union (EU) is a massive market that takes great pride in unifying the region so products and services can flow throughout the market seamlessly. To achieve greater integration, the EU has adopted what it terms the CE Marking Directives. These directives insist that CE Marking is mandatory if your product falls in one of the defined categories stated in its directives.

In this article I will highlight the power of the EU in the world market and the importance of CE Marking to enter and sustain your international marketing operations. As always, I won't provide any legal counsel or advice.

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