U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs)

Export-Import Bank of the United States exim.gov | 1 USEACs EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE UNITED STATES A POWERFUL PORTAL OF OPPORTUNITY FOR U.S. SMALL BUSINESS EXPORTERS U.S. EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTERS Export-Import Bank of the United States exim.gov | 2 “EXIM provides the credit insurance [needed] in case of a financial default by one of our customers in the export market. If we didn’t have the ability to borrow against our receivables, [we] could not survive in this business.” Lee Levenberg, Controller | Ben Kaufman Sales| Medley, FL (Beachwear Importer & Distributor) American businesses are increasingly turning to exports as a source of opportunity, growth and diversification. Though foreign markets are more accessible than ever, exporting can be more complicated than doing business domestically and presents a unique set of challenges. Business owners with an eye on the international marketplace should not be deterred. There are powerful resources to empower exporters to overcome obstacles to global growth. One such resource—the network of U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs)—should be on every exporter’s radar. What is a USEAC? USEACs are one-stop shops that equip U.S. businesses to compete globally. USEAC offices are staffed with the three premier federal agencies engaged in helping you with your export business: the International Trade Administration (ITA), the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Export-Import bank of the U.S. (EXIM Bank). These centers are located in metropolitan areas throughout the United States and serve as ground-level support for American exporters and exporters-to-be. U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) The ITA can help you locate new international markets1 to sell your products and identify key buyers in your existing or new markets. The ITA offers free counseling on a variety of topics, conducts export events, business matchmaking, seminars, webinars and overseas trade missions. Their Gold Key Matching Service2 connects you with potential international distributors and buyers. The SBA offers guarantees3 to your lender. SBA guarantees support Purchase Order financing as well as the purchase of fixed assets to manufacture your export products. EXIM Bank provides tools you need to help you grow your export business while minimizing your risks. Many companies use EXIM Bank’s Export Credit Insurance4 policies not only as protection against buyer non-payment, but also as a marketing tool to extend open account terms to attract new customers and increase existing sales. Insuring your foreign receivables also allows you to use them as eligible collateral with your lender. 1,2 www.export.gov 3,4 www.sba.gov 4 www.exim.gov Export-Import Bank of the United States exim.gov | 3 A Powerful Opportunity for Small Business Exporters Business Matchmaking Services at USEACs Business matchmaking is one of the most powerful tools available to American exporters. The Gold Key Matching Service1 ,provided by the International Trade Administration, arranges business meetings with prescreened overseas agents, distributors, sales representatives and business partners. It allows American businesses to tap the vast network of U.S. Foreign Commercial Service Officers on the ground at embassies throughout the world and their robust rolodex of local contacts. Commerce trade specialists at USEACs work to understand exporters’ products and potential customers, providing customized market and industry briefings and connecting U.S. businesses with prospective trade partners that are a good match. USEACs can help with travel, accommodation and interpretation or the opportunity to meet potential partners2 via videoconferencing. Finally, the service includes assistance in closing deals and shipping products. In addition to the Gold Key Service, the International Trade Administration offers an International Buyer Program3, which introduces exporters to pre-screened buyers at domestic trade shows. The program leverages embassy networks, trade associations, chambers of commerce and other channels to extensively promote its trade show presence. Participants get the opportunity to meet with prospective foreign buyers and distributors and access hundreds of industry-specific international trade leads, as well as global promotion of their businesses through the Export Interest Directory. Exporters also have the opportunity to participate in trade missions led by senior U.S. government leaders, during which they can conduct in person meetings with prescreened international business people. Trade missions are tailored to specific industries and generally target two to four countries per trip. Logistics and appointments are arranged by the U.S. Commercial Service. 1,2,3 www.export.gov Export-Import Bank of the United States exim.gov | 4 What Kind of Support is Available at USEACs? EXIM regional trade specialists provide personal guidance on export finance solutions available to U.S. businesses. They help exporters explore their options and develop a plan of action with solutions tailored to their needs. EXIM experts can equip a business to: • Borrow against export-related assets and unlock working capital loans1 from its lender • Protect open account terms2 and offer potential customers the credit necessary to win sales • Leverage credit risk management expertise and confidently enter new markets • Secure term financing for foreign buyers of capital equipment at advantageous interest rates • Support performance and bid guarantees required to take on major projects, with lower collateralization requirements The Small Business Administration (SBA) also has loan programs3 to help exporters that need access to working capital. SBA’s Export Express Loan Program4 guarantees loans of up to $500,000 to facilitate streamlined financing of export activities. Finally, the International Trade Loan Program5 can help exporters seeking to acquire fixed assets or produce goods for export. Trade Counseling The U.S. International Trade Administration offers trade counseling6 services to help exporters: • Craft international business plans • Navigate legal and regulatory issues • Understand documentation and product requirements • Overcome customs-related obstacles • Verify tariff rates for products • Leverage the appropriate trade finance support from EXIM Market Intelligence USEACs offer access to free country and industry reports and customized market research to help exporters better understand the sales potential of their product in a given market, opportunities and threats to consider and characteristics of prospective customers. Finally, background reports and international company profiles7 are available to analyze the financial health of potential partners. How USEACs Can Help Your Business No transaction is too large or too small. 1,2 www.exim.gov 3,4,5 www.sba.gov 6 www.trade.gov 7 www.export.gov Export-Import Bank of the United States exim.gov | 5 EXIM Regional Offices & USEAC Locations WA OR ID MT WY CO UT NV CA AZ NM TX HI AK OK KS NE SD ND MN IA MO AR LA WI IL IN OH MI KY TN MS AL GA FL SC NC VA WV PA NY ME VT NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD Seattle San Francisco Orange County Houston Dallas Miami Atlanta New York CityDetroitChicago Minneapolis WESTERN REGION CENTRAL REGION EASTERN REGION Alabama Birmingham Alaska Anchorage Arizona Phoenix Tucson Arkansas Little Rock California Bakersfield Fresno Indio Los Angeles Los Angeles (West) Monterey Newport Beach Oakland Ontario Sacramento San Diego San Francisco San Jose San Rafael Ventura Colorado Denver Connecticut Middletown District of Columbia Washington D.C. Florida Clearwater Fort Lauderdale Jacksonville Miami Orlando Tallahassee Georgia Atlanta Savannah Hawaii Honolulu Idaho Boise Illinois Chicago Libertyville Peoria Rockford Indiana Indianapolis Iowa Des Moines Kansas Wichita Kentucky Lexington Louisville Louisiana New Orleans Shreveport Maine Portland Maryland Baltimore Massachusetts Boston Michigan Detroit Grand Rapids Pontiac Ypsilanti Minnesota Minneapolis Mississippi Jackson Missouri Kansas City St. Louis Montana Missoula Nebraska Omaha Nevada Las Vegas Reno New Hampshire New Hampshire New Jersey Northern New Jersey Trenton New York Buffalo Harlem Long Island New York Rochester White Plains North Carolina Charlotte Greensboro Raleigh North Dakota Fargo Ohio Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Toledo Oklahoma Oklahoma City Tulsa Oregon Portland Pennsylvania Harrisburg Philadelphia Pittsburgh Rhode Island Providence South Carolina Charleston Columbia Greenville South Dakota Sioux Falls Tennessee Knoxville Memphis Nashville Texas El Paso Austin Fort Worth Grapevine Houston McAllen Midland San Antonio Utah Salt Lake City Vermont Montpelier Virginia Richmond Virginia (Northern) Washington Seattle Spokane Tacoma West Virginia Charleston Wheeling Wisconsin Milwaukee Puerto Rico San Juan, PR U.S. USEAC Locations For information on a specific country see our International Offices1. EXIM Regional Offices 1 export.gov/worldwide_ us/index.asp Export-Import Bank of the United States exim.gov | 6 How Do I Get in Touch with My Local USEAC? EXIM has 12 regional offices across the United States, most of which are located in USEACs. Get a free export finance consultation today with your regional specialist. grow.exim.gov/contact-a-trade-finance-specialist Helpful Export Information: Additional Information TRADE FINANCE GUIDE GUIDE TO EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE EXIM.GOV grow.exim.gov/finance-guide grow.exim.gov/eci-ebook exim.gov Learn the basic fundamentals of trade finance and turn export opportunities into sales. Learn how to protect your foreign receivables from bad transactions. For more in-depth information about EXIM, visit our website.