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A number of United States government offices are designed to facilitate business and trade, and are often a major source of assistance for potential exporters. Their services are subject to nominal charges and are sometimes free.
However, their resources are limited and care should be exercised in selecting the specific agencies whose mandates are relevant and appropriate to the exporter.
The U.S Customs Service is the primary enforcement agency protecting the Nation's borders. We enforce the laws of the United States, safeguard the revenue and foster lawful international trade and travel. The port of San Francisco services importers, exporters and passengers in San Francisco, Oakland, Eureka, Stockton, Monterey, San Jose, Reno and Salt Lake City. We are the 5th largest port in the nation.
U.S. Commercial Service 1*
What is the U.S Commercial Service?
More than 1,700 men and women of the Commercial Service promote and protect U.S business interests around the world. The Commercial Service is committed to increasing the number of U.S firms, especially small to medium-sized firms, which benefit from international trade by providing expert counseling and advice, information on markets abroad, international contacts, and advocacy services that assist U.S firms in realizing their export potential. The Commercial Service's worldwide network includes offices in more than 100 U.S cities and at more than 80 overseas posts. This presence brings professional trade assistance to U.S firms both at home, and in more than 95 percent of the world market for U.S exports.
How the Commercial Service Helps U.S Businesses?
The Commercial Service provides:
Products and Services Offered To Assist You In Locating International Contacts
Global Business Solutions at Your Fingertips - www.usatrade.gov
A website, designed as an effective business resource, was launched this spring. Though it has extensive information, it cannot replace the active support of trade professionals. Once you have a chance to explore the various products and services, please contact your local Commercial Service Office to discuss how their staff can help you reach your international business goals.
Northern California Locations
Santa Clara U.S. Export Assistance Center
5201 Great America Parkway, Suite 456
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Tel: (408) 970-4610
Fax: (408) 970-4618
Email: santa.clara.office.box@mail.doc.gov
Greg Mignano, USEAC Director
Robert J. Donovan, Manager
Fresno Export Assistance Center
390B West Fir Avenue
Clovis, CA 93611
Phone: (559) 325-1619
Fax: (559) 325-1647
Email: eduardo.torres@mail.doc.gov
Eduardo Torres, Manager
North Bay Export Assistance Center
Temporary addres
250 Montgomery St. 14th Floor
San Francisco, Ca 93611
Tel: (415) 883-1966; Fax: (415) 883-2711
Email: elisabeth.krauth@mail.doc.gov
Elisabeth Krauth, Manager
Oakland Export Assistance Center
530 Water Street, Suite 740
Oakland, CA 94607
Tel: (510) 273-7350; Fax: (510) 273-7352
Email: oakland.office.box@mail.doc.gov
Sacramento Export Assistance Center
917 7th Street, 2d floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: (916) 498-5155; Fax: (916) 498-5923
Email: dale.wright@mail.doc.gov
Dale Wright, Manager
San Francisco Export Assistance Center
250 Montgomery Street, 14th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Tel: (415) 705-2300; Fax: (415) 705-2297
Email: stephan.crawford@mail.doc.gov
Stephan Crawford, Manager
The Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) has responsibility for managing and enforcing the Department's security-related trade and competitiveness programs for national security, foreign policy, and short supply reasons. BXA plays a role in issues involving national security and non-proliferation, export growth, and high technology.
BXA administers the Export Administration Act by developing export control policies, issuing export licenses, and prosecuting violators. Additionally, BXA enforces the EAA's anti boycott provisions.
BXA enhances the defense industrial base and assists U.S defense firms which have felt the impact of reduced defense spending. BXA helps other countries develop export control systems comparable to ours and has assisted enterprises in the republics of the former Soviet Union in converting to civil production.
Focused on meeting the export needs of the western states, BXA West offers a full range of export-related services. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a. m to 5:00 p. m, Pacific time. Our electronic services are available 24 hours a day.
Individualized Counseling on the Export Administration Regulations. Our specialists are available to help you apply the regulations to facilitate exports while ensuring compliance with applicable laws.
"Hands-On" Workshops on a variety of export control topics. We walk you through a step-by-step process to determine your regulatory responsibilities or to assist you in developing an internal compliance system.
Individualized Compliance Program Development to enhance your company's ability to establish the most effective internal controls.
Competitiveness Programs and Defense Trade Advocacy through our Resource matching Program, aiding the vitality of the defense industrial base with a variety of innovative programs.
Electronic Services including free subscriptions to our broadcast e-mail information services - providing regulatory and policy updates and current events of interest to the exporting community.
The Northern California BXA office is responsible for counseling exporters, conducting export control seminars, and drafting and publishing changes to the Export Administration regulations. It is also responsible for licensing and compliance actions relating to the special comprehensive license, and for administering the processing of license applications and commodity classifications.
Local Contact Information:
Bureau of Export Administration (BXA)
125 So.Market St. Suite 1001
San Jose, CA 95113
Tel: (408) 998-7402
Fax: (408 998-7470
Email: jscott@bxa.doc.gov
JoAllyn Scott, Export Administration Specialist
1. Foreign Agricultural Service
The foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) represents the diverse interests of U.S farmers and the food and agricultural sector abroad. It also collects, analyzes, and disseminates information about global supply and demand, trade trends, and emerging market opportunities. Their services include market research, programs and trade shows, as well as education, contact facilitation and arranging trade missions. Fees are few, but do include the Buyer alert program and the Trade Leads Program, at $15 / year.
The FAS offers several key services for U.S exporters:
FAS seeks improved market access for U.S products and implements programs designed to build new markets and to maintain the competitive position of U.S products in the global marketplace.
Local Contact Information:
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
917 Seventh Street
Sacramento, CA 95831
Tel: (916) 447-9824
Fax: (916) 443-2672
Email: fascalif@windjammer.net
Website: http://www.fas.usda.gov
Bonnie Borris, Manager
2. Commodity Credit Corporation
The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), U.S Department of Agriculture, administers export credit guarantee programs for commercial financing of U.S agricultural exports. The programs encourage exports to buyers in countries where credit is necessary to maintain or increase U.S sales but where financing may not be available without CCC guarantees.
Two programs underwrite credit extended by the private banking sector in the United States (or, less commonly, by the U.S exporter) to approved foreign banks using dollar-denominated, irrevocable letters of credit to pay for food and agricultural products sold to foreign buyers. The Export Credit Guarantee program (GSM-102) covers credit terms up to three years. The Intermediate Export Credit guarantee program (GSM-103) covers longer credit terms up to 10 years.
Under these programs, the CCC does not provide financing but guarantees payments due from foreign banks. Typically, 98 percent of principal and a portion of interest at an adjustable rate is covered. Because payment is guaranteed, financial institutions in the United States can offer competitive credit terms to the foreign banks, usually with interest rates based on the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Any follow-on credit arrangements between the foreign banks and the importer are negotiated separately and are not covered by the CCC guarantee.
Program announcements issued by the CCC provide information on specific country and commodity allocations, length of credit period, and other program information and requirements.
Financing
The CCC-approved foreign bank issues a dollar-denominated, irrevocable letter of credit in favor of the U.S exporter, ordinarily advised or confirmed by the financial institution in the United States agreeing to extend credit to the foreign bank. The US exporter may negotiate an arrangement to be paid as exports occur by assigning to the U.S financial institution the right to proceeds that may become payable under the guarantee, and later presenting required documents to that financial institution. Such documents normally include a copy of the export report, which also must be submitted to the CCC.
Additional Information
Copies of the CCC Export Credit Guarantee Program (an overview of the GSM-102 and GSM-103 programs) Fact Sheet may be obtained by calling (202) 720-3224.
The SBA is an independent agency of the federal government that aids, counsels, assists and protects the interests of small business concerns. The SBA, which does not provide businesses with money directly but guarantees loans, has a current guarantee portfolio of approximately 180,000 companies nation-wide paying off loans totaling $27 billion. In 1995 55,590 small businesses borrowed more than $7.8 billion with the SBA's guarantee, 24% of which went to women and women-owned businesses. More than 8,000 commercial lenders have provided SBA guaranteed financing during the last five years.
The SBA's Office of International Trade (OIT) works to encourage small business exports and to assist small businesses seeking to export. OIT's outreach efforts include sponsoring or supporting export training conferences and developing "how to" and market-specific publications for exporters. OIT directs and coordinates SBA's ongoing export initiatives and actively markets SBA's loan guarantee programs (up to $750,000 or 90% of the loan amount) to small business exporters for financing short term, transaction specific exports. The SBA also provides loan guarantees for long-term needs, such as the purchase of fixed assets or long-term working capital. The agency does charge guarantee fees for loans, but all counseling is free of charge.
Another primary function of the SBA is to counsel and train small businesses in how to begin or expand export operations. The SBA offers most training classes free of charge, however there are classes that do charge a nominal fee.
SBA Programs
Export Working Capital Program (EWCP)
The SBA has developed this new program to help small businesses export. The EWCP provides short-term, transaction-specific financing for small business exporters. Exporters may use this program for pre-export financing of labor and materials, financing receivables generated from these sales, and/or standby letters of credit used as performance bonds or payment guarantees to foreign buyers. The EWCP provides repayment guarantees up to $750,000 to commercial lenders and offers exporters preliminary commitments that encourage lenders to provide credit. To be eligible, the small business concern must have been in operation, though not necessarily exporting, for at least 12 months. The EWCP offers a simplified application form. Interest rates and fees are negotiable between the lender and the small business exporter.
International Trade Loan Program (ITL)
This program helps small businesses that are engaged or preparing to engage in international trade, as well as small businesses adversely affected by competition from imports. SBA can guarantee up to $1.25 million, less the amount of SBA's regular lending program. Loans are made by lending institutions with the SBA guaranteeing a portion of the loan. The applicant must establish either that the loan proceeds will significantly expand existing export markets, develop new export markets, or that the small business is adversely affected by import competition. Proceeds may be used for working capital and/or facilities or equipment. Maturities of loans for facilities or equipment may extend to the 25-year maximum.
Also, the SBA office includes a high-tech business library, which may be used by entrepreneurs to research their business ideas and develop their business plans.
Local Contact Information
Small Business Administration (SBA)
455 Market St. 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105-2420
Tel: (415) 744-6792
Fax: (415) 744-9062
Email: raymond.monahan@sba.gov
Website: http://www.sba.gov
Mr. Ray Monahan, International Trade Specialist; Acting Chief, Financing Division.
The Export-Import Bank's primary functions are to finance and facilitate the export of U.S goods and services, as well as offer program training and information seminars. Services and facilities offered by the bank include: working capital guarantees, pre-and post-shipment export credit insurance programs, medium- and long-term loan programs, credit guarantees, financial institution facilities, project finance programs, aircraft finance programs, credit risk protection programs, as well as insured and guaranteed revolving credit facilities. There are no charges for their advisory services.
What is EX-Im Bank's Mission?
Ex-Im bank's mission is to create jobs through exports. It provides guarantees of working capital loans for U.S exporters, guarantees the repayment of loans or makes loans to foreign purchasers of U.S goods and services. Ex-Im Bank also provides credit insurance that protects U.S exporters against the risks of non-payment by foreign buyers for political or commercial reasons. Ex-Im Bank does not compete with commercial lenders, but assumes the risks they cannot accept. It must always conclude that there is reasonable assurance of repayment on every transaction financed.
When Can Ex-Im Bank Help?
Ex-Im Bank provides a level playing field for U.S exporters by countering the export credit subsidies of other governments. It also provides financing to creditworthy private and sovereign foreign buyers when private financing is unavailable. To qualify for Ex-Im Bank support, the product or service must have at least 50 percent U.S content and must not affect the U.S economy adversely.
Ex-Im Bank supports the sales of U.S exports worldwide. In recent years, its focus has shifted to the developing nations whose economies are growing at twice the rate of the industrial nations.
Ex-Im Bank will finance the export of all types of goods or services, including commodities, as long as they are not military-related (certain exceptions exist). Two of its major goals are to increase the export of environmental goods and services, which are in strong demand among the developing nations, and to expand the number of U.S small businesses using Ex-Im Bank programs.
Brief Description of Ex - Im programs
Local Contact Information
Export-Import Bank of the United States
San Francisco Satellite office
250 Montgomery Street, 14th Floor
San Francisco, California 94104
Tel: (415) 705-2285
Fax: (415) 705-1156
Email: jim.lucchesi@exim.gov
Website: http://www.exim.gov
Jim Lucchesi, Branch Manager