EXPORT INFORMATION SOURCES
EXPORT INFORMATION SOURCES
Information needed for exporting is easier to obtain than for domestic sales. Probably more information is available than one could digest in a lifetime, and the United States Department of Commerce has made it easy to acquire. For example, the Foreign Trader's Index and Trade Opportunities files are available in printed form and up-to-the-minute computer-resident data bases.
If you are planning to contact the federal government about a business matter but have no idea where to begin, the Office of Business Liaison (OBL) is a good place to start. Ask for a copy of Business Services Directory at the following address:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Office of Business Liaison Room H5898C Washington, DC 20230 202-377-3176
Government Sources
Your nearest Department of Commerce, ITA office, or the Trade Information Services Office at Commerce Department headquarters in Washington, DC offers the following information services to United States exporters.
CIMS.
The Commercial Information Management System (CIMS) is the latest method developed to link you with the wealth of information that you can receive through the Department of Commerce and the worldwide offices of its United States and Foreign Commercial Service. CIMS is an electronic/computerized system that can extract from its data base market research, trade contacts, and sales leads. Your local district office can access this system, but there is a setup and per-page cost. Here are just some of the industries you can learn about:
• Analytical & Scientific Instruments
• Computers and Mini-micro Systems
• Computers and Peripheral Equipment
• Computer Software & Services
• Electronic Components
• Electronic-Component Production and Test Equipment
• Food-Processing & Packaging Equipment
• Industrial-Process Controls
• Medical Equipment
• Pollution-Control Equipment
• Telecommunications Equipment
Export Information Services for U.S. Business Firms
This booklet describes a wide range of services to assist in export activities. You can order it from the Office of Export Development, International Trade Administration, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. It is no charge.
The Overseas Trade Promotions Calendar
This calendar provides a schedule of United States Trade Center exhibitions and international trade fairs in which the United States plans to participate. It also includes other overseas promotional activities that the United States Department of Commerce plans and organizes. It is published regularly in the Commerce Department magazine Business America. You can order it from: The Office of International Marketing, International Trade Administration, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC.
How to Get the Most from Overseas Exhibitions
This brochure contains helpful planning tips and details the steps you must take to participate in an overseas exhibition. You can obtain a copy from the Office of Export Development, International Trade Administration, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. It is no charge.
Trade Opportunities Program (TOP) Notice Service
In the past, the Department of Commerce provided, for a fee, individual messages directly to subscribers, containing detailed information regarding current foreign trade leads. These leads typically included the specifications, quantities, end-use, and delivery and bid deadlines for the product or service desired by the foreign customer. "Export Opportunities", published under contract by the privately-owned daily newspaper Jo urnal of Commerce, has replaced this service. The annual subscription cost is $205. "Export Opportunities" also is available on-line from the same company. Call 1-800-223-0243 for this information.
Trade Lists
A trade list is a list of all foreign manufacturers, wholesalers, agents, distributors, retailers, and other purchasers in a given industry, or country, included in the Commerce Department's automated Foreign Traders Index (FTI). CIMS can provide information on each firm. It includes name, address, key contact, telephone, cable, kind of business, and age of information. Trade lists are priced from $12 to $40.
Comparison Shopping Service
This service is a custom-market research report available through CIMS for your product line. It addresses overall product marketability, names of key competitors, comparison prices, customary entry, distribution, relevant trade barriers, and most other matters of interest. This service is available only for selected countries. The charge is $500 for each country surveyed.
Commercial News USA
This magazine is published ten times a year. It provides worldwide advertising for United States products and services that are available for immediate export. It is distributed to representatives, distributors, and end users. The cost for an ad in the magazine is about $250. This fee includes a listing with a photograph.
International Market Research (IMR) Surveys
These surveys provide in-depth analysis of the market. You can obtain them through CIMS for a given product category, in a given country. They are as long as 400 pages. IMRs cost $50 to $200.
Industrial Sector Analysis
This analysis provides detailed information abstracted from CIMS into convenient, 10- to 15-page reports, on a single industry in a single country. The cost of a single report is about $10.
Global Market Surveys (GMS)
This survey is a compilation of individual country market surveys (ICMS) for a given product category. Prices vary depending on the number of ICMSs within each GMS.
World Traders Data Reports (WTDRs)
This report is a background report on individual foreign firms. It contains information about each firm's business activities, its standing in the local business community, its creditworthiness, and its overall reliability and suitability as a trade contact to United States exporters. WTDRs are designed to help United States firms locate and evaluate potential foreign customers before making a business commitment. WTDRs cost $75 per report.
Ready for 1992?
During the period leading toward and after the European community completes its internal market, United States businesses need to remain aware of opportunities as well as the risks to market access. The Department of Commerce has a special office to support your interests by providing up-to-date copies of Internal Market Regulations and other information. Contact:
SINGLE INTERNAL MARKET: 1992 INFORMATION SERVICE Office of European Community Affairs U.S. Department of Commerce
Room 3036 14th and Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20230 or call: (202) 377-5276
Agent/Distributor Service (ADS)
ADS performs a custom overseas search for interested and qualified foreign representatives on behalf of a United States client. Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) officers abroad conduct the search and prepare a report identifying up to six foreign prospects that have personally examined the United States firm's product literature and have expressed interest in representing the firm. You can obtain ADS through CIMS. The cost is about $125 per market or specific area.
SUCCESS STORY—EXPORT INFORMATION:
A young computer whiz in his early twenties studied the trade
statistics at his local ITA district office and learned that there is
a need for software in Central and South America. Now his
business is booming as he markets, by direct mail, to several
countries in that region.
Information needed for exporting is easier to obtain than for domestic sales. Probably more information is available than one could digest in a lifetime, and the United States Department of Commerce has made it easy to acquire. For example, the Foreign Trader's Index and Trade Opportunities files are available in printed form and up-to-the-minute computer-resident data bases.
If you are planning to contact the federal government about a business matter but have no idea where to begin, the Office of Business Liaison (OBL) is a good place to start. Ask for a copy of Business Services Directory at the following address:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Office of Business Liaison Room H5898C Washington, DC 20230 202-377-3176
Government Sources
Your nearest Department of Commerce, ITA office, or the Trade Information Services Office at Commerce Department headquarters in Washington, DC offers the following information services to United States exporters.
CIMS.
The Commercial Information Management System (CIMS) is the latest method developed to link you with the wealth of information that you can receive through the Department of Commerce and the worldwide offices of its United States and Foreign Commercial Service. CIMS is an electronic/computerized system that can extract from its data base market research, trade contacts, and sales leads. Your local district office can access this system, but there is a setup and per-page cost. Here are just some of the industries you can learn about:
• Analytical & Scientific Instruments
• Computers and Mini-micro Systems
• Computers and Peripheral Equipment
• Computer Software & Services
• Electronic Components
• Electronic-Component Production and Test Equipment
• Food-Processing & Packaging Equipment
• Industrial-Process Controls
• Medical Equipment
• Pollution-Control Equipment
• Telecommunications Equipment
Export Information Services for U.S. Business Firms
This booklet describes a wide range of services to assist in export activities. You can order it from the Office of Export Development, International Trade Administration, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. It is no charge.
The Overseas Trade Promotions Calendar
This calendar provides a schedule of United States Trade Center exhibitions and international trade fairs in which the United States plans to participate. It also includes other overseas promotional activities that the United States Department of Commerce plans and organizes. It is published regularly in the Commerce Department magazine Business America. You can order it from: The Office of International Marketing, International Trade Administration, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC.
How to Get the Most from Overseas Exhibitions
This brochure contains helpful planning tips and details the steps you must take to participate in an overseas exhibition. You can obtain a copy from the Office of Export Development, International Trade Administration, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. It is no charge.
Trade Opportunities Program (TOP) Notice Service
In the past, the Department of Commerce provided, for a fee, individual messages directly to subscribers, containing detailed information regarding current foreign trade leads. These leads typically included the specifications, quantities, end-use, and delivery and bid deadlines for the product or service desired by the foreign customer. "Export Opportunities", published under contract by the privately-owned daily newspaper Jo urnal of Commerce, has replaced this service. The annual subscription cost is $205. "Export Opportunities" also is available on-line from the same company. Call 1-800-223-0243 for this information.
Trade Lists
A trade list is a list of all foreign manufacturers, wholesalers, agents, distributors, retailers, and other purchasers in a given industry, or country, included in the Commerce Department's automated Foreign Traders Index (FTI). CIMS can provide information on each firm. It includes name, address, key contact, telephone, cable, kind of business, and age of information. Trade lists are priced from $12 to $40.
Comparison Shopping Service
This service is a custom-market research report available through CIMS for your product line. It addresses overall product marketability, names of key competitors, comparison prices, customary entry, distribution, relevant trade barriers, and most other matters of interest. This service is available only for selected countries. The charge is $500 for each country surveyed.
Commercial News USA
This magazine is published ten times a year. It provides worldwide advertising for United States products and services that are available for immediate export. It is distributed to representatives, distributors, and end users. The cost for an ad in the magazine is about $250. This fee includes a listing with a photograph.
International Market Research (IMR) Surveys
These surveys provide in-depth analysis of the market. You can obtain them through CIMS for a given product category, in a given country. They are as long as 400 pages. IMRs cost $50 to $200.
Industrial Sector Analysis
This analysis provides detailed information abstracted from CIMS into convenient, 10- to 15-page reports, on a single industry in a single country. The cost of a single report is about $10.
Global Market Surveys (GMS)
This survey is a compilation of individual country market surveys (ICMS) for a given product category. Prices vary depending on the number of ICMSs within each GMS.
World Traders Data Reports (WTDRs)
This report is a background report on individual foreign firms. It contains information about each firm's business activities, its standing in the local business community, its creditworthiness, and its overall reliability and suitability as a trade contact to United States exporters. WTDRs are designed to help United States firms locate and evaluate potential foreign customers before making a business commitment. WTDRs cost $75 per report.
Ready for 1992?
During the period leading toward and after the European community completes its internal market, United States businesses need to remain aware of opportunities as well as the risks to market access. The Department of Commerce has a special office to support your interests by providing up-to-date copies of Internal Market Regulations and other information. Contact:
SINGLE INTERNAL MARKET: 1992 INFORMATION SERVICE Office of European Community Affairs U.S. Department of Commerce
Room 3036 14th and Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20230 or call: (202) 377-5276
Agent/Distributor Service (ADS)
ADS performs a custom overseas search for interested and qualified foreign representatives on behalf of a United States client. Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) officers abroad conduct the search and prepare a report identifying up to six foreign prospects that have personally examined the United States firm's product literature and have expressed interest in representing the firm. You can obtain ADS through CIMS. The cost is about $125 per market or specific area.
SUCCESS STORY—EXPORT INFORMATION:
A young computer whiz in his early twenties studied the trade
statistics at his local ITA district office and learned that there is
a need for software in Central and South America. Now his
business is booming as he markets, by direct mail, to several
countries in that region.
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