Latest News
June 30, 2011
New On-Line Tool for Small Exporters
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently unveiled a new on-line tool for small businesses interested in starting or expanding their exporting operations. The free on-line tool will help small businesses evaluate their export readiness and help them fill in any gaps to come up with a comprehensive export business plan. The Export Business Planner, [Read More]
June 1, 2011
Export Control System Front-and-Center
A new rule has been implemented by the Department of Commerce to update and harmonize internationally the dual-use export control list. This rule will bring the U.S. in-line with recent changes to an international arrangement. Meanwhile, legislation has been introduced in the House by Howard Berman (D-Calif.), the Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs [Read More]
May 25, 2011
Ex-Im Reauthorization Process Begins
With just a few months remaining for Congress to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Ex-Im Bank), lawmakers are now in the process of holding oversight hearings and crafting draft legislation. The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs recently held a hearing on Ex-Im Bank’s activities and challenges in the coming [Read More]
May 25, 2011
Record Growth in U.S. Exports
March’s exports of U.S. goods and services—$172.7 billion—was the largest monthly total in nearly two decades. This number surpassed the previous record of $167.5 billion, which occurred in January 2011, according to data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department. Unfortunately, the U.S. trade deficit also grew in March to [Read More]
May 24, 2011
Trade Assistance Linked to Trade Agreements
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told lawmakers that the pending trade deals with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea could all be passed “by August if not sooner” but with a slight catch. Kirk pegged the deadline on the condition that Congress renews the expired Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (TAA)—a program that helps American workers hurt [Read More]
May 24, 2011
Ex-Im Bank Approves $2.4 Billion for Small Biz
The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Ex-Im Bank) recently announced growth in financing for small- and mid-sized exporters. Launched Jan. 2010 by Ex-Im Chairman & President Fred P. Hochberg, the Global Access for Small Business Program has played a critical role in the growth of Ex-Im’s small-business lending portfolio. According to Ex-Im Bank’s announcement, they [Read More]
May 23, 2011
Small Biz Week Forum on Exporting
During National Small Business Week—which was May 16 – 20—the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) held various events, including a forum dedicated to highlighting exporting opportunities for small businesses. According to Luz Hopewell, Acting Associate Administrator , Office of International Trade at the SBA who kicked off the forum, ninety-six percent of the world’s customers [Read More]
April 28, 2011
Possible Summer Action on Free Trade Agreements
After months of negotiation, the administration announced April 6 an action agreement with Colombia to resolve outstanding Colombian labor issues that could bring a long-stalled free trade agreement (FTA) with the South American country to Congress this year. Under the terms, the Colombian government must meet a series of benchmarks on labor laws, protection against [Read More]
April 28, 2011
New On-line Tool for Tariff Information
On April 27, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) unveiled a new on-line tool that will help small- and mid-sized exporters find streamlined information on tariffs. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Tariff Tool was launched this week during a [Read More]
April 27, 2011
