People in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood know artist Nikolas Weinstein for his cascading glass sculpture at a local restaurant, but U.S. customers are only 10 percent of Weinstein’s business. As we celebrate National Small Business Week, Nikolas Weinstein Studios deserves recognition as proof that – with a product or service that can be sold internationally – no business is too small or specialized to succeed in the global marketplace.

Initially, Weinstein met global customers by word-of-mouth. In 2009, they began working with the U.S. Commercial Service in San Francisco to seek counseling on international markets in Japan, China and Hong Kong. Since teaming with the U.S. Commerce Department, their international business has increased more than four-fold. In the past two years, more than 70 percent of their total business has resulted from working with the Commercial Service.

Businesses with stories like Nikolas Weinstein Studios support our efforts under the President’s National Export Initiative to increase U.S. exports and support millions of jobs here at home.  We’re committed to helping all U.S. businesses start selling internationally or expand global sales, but we recognize that small businesses have unique needs. In fact, small businesses represent nearly 85 percent of the companies we help at the International Trade Administration.

Small businesses also account for 98 percent of known U.S. exporting companies, and they are increasing their share of exports. In 2011, small and medium-sized businesses accounted for 33 percent of the overall value of U.S. goods exports – up from 27 percent nine years ago.

We also know small businesses create two out of three net new private sector jobs in our economy.  And today, half of all working Americans either own or work for a small business.

That’s why the Administration has focused its efforts on increasing the number of U.S. small and medium-sized exporters and making it easier for them to access federal export assistance.

We’re working to accomplish this by expanding access to trade financing and ensuring the most efficient delivery of our services to help small businesses establish a foothold abroad, compete on a level playing field, diversify their markets, and support additional good-paying American jobs.

Small businesses like Nikolas Weinstein Studios characterize the American entrepreneurial spirit. At the International Trade Administration, we see American products as the gold standard of quality and innovation. For small businesses interested in the global market, Weinstein has some simple advice – “Remember: American creativity is something people value.”

Calynn Jenkins is an intern in the International Trade Administration’s Office of Public Affairs. She is studying political science at American University. 

ITA’s Executive Director for Export Policy, Promotion, and Strategy Michael Masserman participates in round table discussion about U.S. competitiveness in Africa with representatives from the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, U.S. Trade Development agency and hosted by Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) and moderated by Dr. Sharon Freeman, Chairman and CEO of All American Small Business Exporters Association.

President Obama recently said sub-Saharan Africa is poised to be the world’s next greatest economic success story, with U.S. exports to Africa topping $21 billion a year. In fact, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to six of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world, and enormous opportunities exist for U.S. companies to not only do well – but to do good.

That’s why then-Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank launched the Doing Business in Africa Campaign (DBIA) last November in Johannesburg, South Africa. The campaign furthers the President’s vision of more robust commercial engagement in sub-Saharan Africa by helping U.S. businesses benefit from the export and investment opportunities in the region.

President Obama said on the day of its launch, “Through the DBIA campaign, we are responding to the emergence of African regional economic communities, and working with our partners to deepen integration, reduce barriers to trade and investment, and support existing and new investments by American businesses.”

With the commitment of the Department of Commerce, the International Trade Administration, and interagency partners, DBIA is actively promoting the opportunities available to companies in Africa. Just this morning Commerce, the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and U.S. Trade and Development Agency joined a round table hosted by Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) with more than 100 stakeholders including the diplomatic corps and small businesses to talk about U.S. competitiveness in Africa. Each agency highlighted resources available to companies and how they fit together under the DBIA Campaign.

Pittsburgh-based Cardinal Resources, LLC seized the opportunity. Cardinal is an environmental and energy company that produces solar powered water treatment systems. From the company’s beginning in 2004, Cardinal Resources’ founders have always seen exporting and reaching international customers as its key to success. The U.S. Commercial Service (CS) assisted Cardinal Resources, LLC with exporting their solar powered water treatment systems to Africa, including Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Ghana.

The Commercial Service communicated with customs authorities to help reduce duties and taxes; therefore, Cardinal Resources, LLC was able to more effectively complete the costly procedure of providing demonstrations of their solar powered water treatment systems to potential buyers overseas. The company is happy to report that they successfully closed two sales and gained over $9 million in sales revenue with the Commercial Services’ help.

“While there are challenges to doing business in Africa, we believe the sun continues to shine bright on the continent,” said Cardinal’s President Kevin Jones. “There is a tremendous need for clean water, and a growing commitment from governments to private companies to meet that need using sustainable solutions like our Red Bird Systems. Exporting sustained our company over the years and exporting to Africa will fuel our growth to new levels.”

Not only is Cardinal Resources, LLC taking advantage of the export opportunities in Africa, but it is strengthening our economy at home by sourcing 90 percent of the components for its systems from U.S. manufacturers. A project in Bayelsa, Nigeria, includes potable water storage tanks manufactured in Stoystown, Pennsylvania. Now that is good business!

To learn more about information technology sector opportunities in Africa, register for the June 20^th 11:00 a.m. EST Sub-Saharan Africa Region & Trends: ICT Sector Webinar.

Is your business looking to expand their products overseas? Have you thought about the opportunities in Africa? Visit export.gov/Africa and sign up for email updates to get the latest on opportunities to do business in Africa, the DBIA campaign, and much more!

Under Secretary of International Trade Francisco Sánchez and U.S. delegation members meet with Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology
Nguyễn Quân in Hanoi, Vietnam.

This May, I was able to lead the largest ever U.S. Civil Nuclear Energy Trade Policy Mission to Hanoi, Vietnam, and Beijing and Ningbo, China. This mission enabled us to address important policy issues and highlight how U.S. civil nuclear technologies and services can help Vietnam and China meet their civil nuclear energy goals.

The U.S. government delegation included representatives from the White House, Department of Energy, U.S. Export-Import Bank, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and of course the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. The industry delegation included 11 American companies in Vietnam and 15 in China.

Vietnam and China offer abundant opportunities to U.S. civil nuclear companies:

• Vietnam is steadily developing its nuclear power program and its civil nuclear market is estimated to be worth $10 billion and expected to grow to $50 billion by 2030;
• China is the world’s fastest growing civil nuclear market. 29 of the 65 reactors under construction globally are in China and the country’s nuclear industry is expected to grow to nearly $300 billion by 2020.

In Vietnam, our delegation met with government officials and also participated in a Best Practices workshop attended by 50 representatives from Vietnamese ministries, state-owned utilities, and regulatory agencies. Delegates shared their expertise on a variety of topics including safety improvements post-Fukushima, and how nuclear regulators and industry can cooperate to enhance nuclear safety.

In China, we met with eight ministries and companies to discuss policy issues such as liability, local content, and intellectual property rights. The mission concluded with a visit to China’s Sanmen nuclear power plant site, where the world’s first AP1000 reactor – designed by U.S. company Westinghouse – is being built.

Our trade mission also lined-up with other important events recognizing the value of our economic relationship with Asia.

This week, the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council is holding a series of meetings with U.S. businesses. I was also able to speak about the importance of Asia at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Think Asia Think Hong Kong symposium in New York.

I am proud to contribute to our important trade relationship, and to have led such a distinguished delegation to these key civil nuclear export markets. This is another example of our efforts to help U.S. exporters find new opportunities to sell their goods and services and support American jobs.

Calynn Jenkins is an intern in the International Trade Administration’s Office of Public Affairs. She is studying political science at American University. 

Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade Ken Hyatt, and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President/CEO Rossi Ralenkotter sign a Memorandum of Agreement to support Nevada’s tourism industry.

The United States’ growth in travel and tourism exports is the result of more than just a roll of the dice. Export success in this industry requires partnerships. Partnerships among government agencies as part of President Obama’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy have helped, and government leaders took another step earlier today.

Tuesday morning, Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Kenneth Hyatt signed a Trade Promotion Partner Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). This agreement between the International Trade Administration (ITA) and LVCVA creates a strategic partnership in order to strengthen Nevada’s tourism sector.

“LVCVA and ITA share a common mission to increase travel and tourism in the United States in order to boost our economy and create jobs,” said Hyatt. “I am pleased to commemorate our new partnership that will be instrumental in helping the Southern Nevada region increase the number of international visitors it attracts.”

Signing this agreement with Las Vegas makes sense; Las Vegas is a key destination for international travelers, with 39.7 million visitors in 2012. LVCVA has a goal of increasing the percentage of international visitors to Nevada from 17 to 30 percent.

“We will leverage the strength of the Las Vegas brand and the Las Vegas Convention Center’s World Trade Center designation to further position Las Vegas as a global business destination,” said LVCVA President/CEO Rossi Ralenkotter.

“Tourism drives the economic vitality of Las Vegas and supports nearly half of all the jobs in Southern Nevada,” said Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins. “The business community understands the importance of the industry.”

Not only will this agreement help the state of Nevada’s tourism sector and economy, but it supports nationwide growth in the industry. Travel and tourism supported 7.5 million jobs for American workers in 2012.

The International Trade Administration is committed to the continued growth of the U.S. travel and tourism sector. To learn more about our efforts visit the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries and for detailed information on international travel and tourism visit the 2012-2018 forecast.

Jim Ross of Ross Laboratories (center) demonstrates  some of Ross Labs’ marine technology for Karen Taylor of the Seattle Export Assistance Center and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe Matt Murray during a discussion of market access opportunities.

As we discussed last week, we at the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Office of Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia have been working hard to tell American businesses about doing business in Russia. Since last year, we’ve held a series of webinars, visits and consultations to help businesses understand our new trade relationship.

We will also participate in this month’s International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg. This forum will have participants from around the world and one of the key focuses will be the importance of capitalizing on new opportunities.

We see the Russian market as a new opportunity for many businesses and are working hard to make sure our trade relationship stays on the right path and American businesses understand how to navigate it.

“Standards and conformity assessment barriers are the number one trade barrier by volume around the world,” says Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia Matthew Murray. “We see clear value to getting ahead of these issues, identifying problems early, and making sure U.S. exporters are aware of the rights and resources at their disposal.”

Our team has given presentations on our evolving trade relationship with Russia, and how ITA can help businesses overcome trade barriers and do business with Russia.

One such presentation was in late September, on the margins of the 2012 Russian-America Pacific Partnership (RAPP) forum held in Tacoma, Washington. Mr. Murray spoke in a series of events and held one-on-one meetings with companies across the state.

Washington plays a vital state role in conducting foreign trade; it’s the 7^th-largest state export volume and was the 5^th largest state exporter to Russia. The state’s increase in exports to Russia from $247 million in 2010 to $445 million in 2011 directly supported over 1,400 American jobs.

During 2012 and 2013, our office helped to organize additional roundtable events with U.S. companies on the benefits of Russia’s WTO membership in eight cities including New York, Moscow and Boston. In June 2012 hosted a webinar that reached over 100 participates across the United States.

We continue to listen. If you want to learn how to do business in Russia, please contact your nearest Export Assistance Center for assistance. We look forward to helping American business sell their goods and services in Russia, taking advantage of our new trade agreement.

The International Buyer Program can help you maximize export opportunities at trade shows.

Your U.S. company may be looking to export but not know where to start. Good news: your chances of finding the right international business partner greatly increase by participating in a trade show that has been selected as a venue for the International Buyer Program (IBP).

Our program brings thousands of pre-screened international buyers to U.S. trade shows. So at an IBP-certified event, you’ll not only meet more international buyers, representatives and distributors, but your products and services will also be listed in the Export Interest Directory distributed to all international visitors to the show.

This makes your company and your products easy to find for potential customers. That will help you make more contacts, and maybe even more sales.

In addition to assistance from our experienced staff, you will also have access to an on-site International Trade Center, where your company can meet privately with prospective international buyers, sales representatives and business partners.

I am pleased to announce the 26 U.S. trade shows in 2014 to which the International Buyer Program (IBP) will bring prospective international buyers. Thanks to our rigorous competitive selection process, I am confident these 26 shows will provide excellent business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking venues for U.S. companies looking to expand their international sales to new markets, or to start exporting.

For those U.S. companies planning to exhibit at any of these shows, the IBP is a great way to maximize your trade show investment.

Some advantages of the IBP include:

• U.S. companies meet pre-screened prospective buyers from around the world all in one domestic venue.
• Last year the IBP recruited over 10,800 prospective buyers from international markets, resulting in 3,860 B2B and business-to-government sessions.
• New online business matchmaking software program connects U.S. companies and foreign buyers, enabling them to contact each other and schedule meetings prior to the show.

The International Buyer Program is a joint government-industry effort designed to increase U.S. export sales by promoting international attendance at major U.S. industry exhibitions. The IBP provides practical, hands-on assistance to U.S. exhibitors interested in exporting and making contacts with prospective overseas trade partners. This assistance includes export counseling, marketing analysis, and matchmaking services.

To learn more about our events and how they can help you, follow the International Buyer Program on Twitter or contact us with any questions.

The environmental technology sector is a huge contributor to the American economy. It had an estimated revenue of $312 billion in 2012, employing 1.7 million Americans.

Another important note: promoting exports of environmental technology promotes environmental stewardship around the world. EPA partners with several federal agencies on its Trade and Economics Program to promote the trade and environment agenda globally.

This is important work, helping support the American economy and proliferating technology that helps preserve the world around us.

You can read more on the EPA’s blog, “It’s Our Environment.”

The inaugural Spanish language version of the Trade Finance Guide was released at the May 8 “Trade Connect” workshop held at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. 

On May 8, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration unveiled the first Spanish language version of the Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters.

The Guide is a simple and effective tool designed to help U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) learn the best ways to get paid from export sales. Now that the Guide is also available in Spanish, it can better help U.S.-based Hispanic and Latino companies compete in global markets.

What is the Trade Finance Guide?

The Trade Finance Guide covers 14 subject areas in easy-to-understand two-page chapters that are written in plain language. The Guide is:

• A “60-minute” self-learning tool for new-to-export SMEs that wish to learn how to benefit from export sales.
• A user-friendly tool for international credit, banking and trade finance professionals, as well as export counselors for client assistance.
• A flexible educational tool for professionals teaching international business.

The Guide uses a no-nonsense approach to make it easy to understand appropriate payment methods and trade finance techniques when dealing with international transactions. There is a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each potential payment method, helping new-to-export companies pick the best method for them. The Trade Finance Guide has become one of the most popular export assistance resources published by the Commerce Department.

Spanish Language and Hispanic and Latino-Owned Businesses in the United States

The U.S. Census Bureau says Spanish is the primary language spoken at home by approximately 35 million people, a figure more than double that of 1990. The number of Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses, most of which are SMEs, increased by 44 percent to 2.3 million, more than twice the national rate between 2002 and 2007. These businesses generated $345 billion in sales in 2007, up 55 percent from 2002.

As the growing Spanish-speaking population continues its entrepreneurial growth, the Spanish version of the Trade Finance Guide will help their businesses enter into the global marketplace. The Guide will also help other American businesses work with buyers in Spanish-speaking markets, helping all U.S. businesses expand their exports.

Partnership and Cooperation

The Trade Finance Guide was created in partnership with the Finance, Credit, and International Business Association (FCIB) and in cooperation with:

• U.S. Export–Import Bank
• U.S. Small Business Association
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• International Factoring Association
• Association of Trade & Forfaiting in the Americas
• Bankers Association for Finance & Trade–International Financial Services Association

The Guide’s Spanish language version was made possible through partial funding from the California Centers for International Trade Development and in collaboration with FCIB and the Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency.

Dr. Cody Friesen

Today on the Department of Commerce Blog, Dr. Cody Friesen discusses the recent infrastructure trade mission to Latin America. Missions like these are one way the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration (ITA) help U.S. businesses develop contacts and find export opportunities in expanding markets.

As Friesen points out, the barriers for a business looking to export are not as high as one might think. Services from ITA and the Department of Commerce can help your business find qualified buyers, conduct market research, and develop contacts in foreign markets.

One of our upcoming trade missions may be the next step for your company to find a new market overseas. You can read more of Dr. Friesen’s advice on the Department of Commerce Blog.

What better way to recognize World Trade Month than by expanding to the Russian market?

On December 14^th, 2012, President Obama signed into law legislation extending Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia, establishing a promising trade future with a growing economy. We at the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Office of Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia are working to help U.S. companies understand and take advantage of this relationship.

Our team has worked to inform U.S. industry about changes that will take place due to PNTR and Russia’s accession to the WTO. Our goal is to make sure that all U.S. businesses understand the agreement and are able to take advantage of this new trade relationship.

The U.S.-Russian Business Development and Economic Relations Working Group, which was established in 2009 by President Obama and then-Russian President Medvedev as part of the U.S.-Russian Bilateral Presidential Commission, is informing American companies of their new trading rights and business opportunities stemming from U.S.-Russian cooperation. The Working Group signed a plan that will guide and shape bilateral economic cooperation efforts between the two governments.

One specific area where work is under way is the realm of standards and conformity assessment. As tariff barriers fall, non-tariff barriers tend to rise. We’re working with interested industry groups and companies from both countries to prevent unnecessary trade barriers. Familiarizing companies and regulators with the rules-based WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade can help to increase transparency and facilitate greater trade and investment.

Later this week, we’ll meet with government and industry representatives from both countries for the U.S.-Russian Standards and Conformity Assessment Forum in Moscow. We’ll discuss how to prevent trade barriers and cooperate on standards for fair trade. More than 500 attendees have registered for the event.

We continue to reach out to U.S. companies about doing business with Russia, and I hope you’ll check back next week when we provide an update on outreach activities.

If your business is interested in exporting to Russia, the entire Department of Commerce team is ready to help. Your nearest Export Assistance Center can help you understand how to take advantage of our updated trade relationship. If you’ve run into a trade barrier with Russia or any other country, you can report it to ITA’s Trade Compliance Center.

This World Trade Month and all year long, we’d love to help you sell your goods and services in the Russian market.