Thursday 7 July 2011

Information technology and international trade: resources for the modern exporter

Bryan D. Larson is an International Trade Specialist at the Trade Information Center, located in the Office of Export Promotion Coordination at the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Trade Information Center is a central access point for information on all federal export assistance programs. Bryan can be reached at 1-800-872-8723 (1-800-USA-TRADE) or through the Internet at Bryan_Larson@ita. doc.gov


Information technology is rapidly changing the nature of international trade. Today, technological innovation is required to satisfy customers' demands for lower prices, faster delivery, and higher quality products and services. These demands, coupled with a globally competitive environment, place a great deal of pressure on the profit margins of manufacturers, service providers, and export trading companies alike. To survive in this environment, businesses must effectively use technology to ensure that they can tap into the right information and act on it quickly.


This article focuses on a handful of the many information and communication technologies that can increase your export potential. International Trade Specialists at the Trade Information Center (TIC) can provide more comprehensive information on these and other public- and private-sector electronic resources. You can reach the TIC at 1-800-872-8723 (1-800-USA-TRADE).


Internet

According to Mark Baker, an Internet homepage designer at the International Trade Administration (ITA), "While there is a wide gulf between the hype and reality of what the Internet can deliver, it is rapidly becoming a useful tool in international trade." Through the Internet, businesses are now able to find suppliers and buyers, conduct valuable market research, and post information on their products and services. At an even more sophisticated level, exporters can now use the Internet to do everything from submitting documentation to booking a container on a ship. So many businesses are using the Internet that the TIC publishes an Internet Resource Guide of international trade sites. Call the TIC to get a free copy.

For sources of international market research, you can take advantage of many government and private-sector Internet sites. For example, STAT-USA Internet@ (http://wwwstatusa.gov) is the most comprehensive source of international trade information available from the U.S. Government. STAT-USA Internet includes access to market research reports, Country Commercial Guides, Trade Opportunity Leads, the Export Yellow Pages, import and export statistics, and literally hundreds of other programs. The subscription cost is a bargain at $50 per quarter or $150 per year. In addition, the International Trade Administration homepage (http:hwww.ita.doc.gov) provides a wealth of information and links to other international trade sites through its Tradebase section.

Another useful Internet site is Trade Point USA's I-TRADE (http://www.tpusa.com) homepage. A member of the United Nations' Global Trade Point Network, Trade Point USA brings together trade information from public and private sources, much of which is not available elsewhere on the Internet. Businesses can also use I-TRADE to find directories and referral services to help them obtain trade finance and other trade-related services. While some of I-TRADE's services are fee-based, many are available for no charge.


A notable private-sector Internet site is Trade Compass (http://www.tradecompass.com). Operated by Horizons Trading, Trade Compass is one of the most innovative international trade sites on the Internet. Registration is free, and the offerings include trade leads, international business news, trade show listings, a searchable directory of freight forwarders, conferences, links to other international trade homepages, and much more. One particularly interesting feature of Trade Compass is its Logistics Management System, through which you can search shipping schedules, submit export documentation, and soon book a container and retrieve tariff information.


Electronic Bulletin Boards And Closed Systems

The openness and semi-chaotic structure of the Internet can be overwhelming. Fortunately, businesses can take advantage of more controlled closed systems. For example, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Bulletin Board (EBB) allows users to search through Trade Opportunity Leads released every business day. The EBB is also a source for statistical releases from a variety of government agencies such as the Bureau of Census, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Federal Reserve Board. The subscription fee for the EBB is $45 per year plus on-line connect charges.

In addition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is now marketing the International Business Exchange Network (IBEX), a new system to help exporters find, qualify, and negotiate with business partners worldwide via personal computers. IBEX also gives users access to a wide range of services and market research from both the private and public sectors. Registration for IBEX costs $250. Call 1-800-537-IBEX for more information.

On-line services such as Compuserve, America Online, and Prodigy also offer access to a wide range of business databases and professional forums. On Compuserve, for example, members can join the International Trade Forum to conduct research in the trade library, ask for and contribute advice, and post and retrieve trade opportunities. The TIC also offers on-line export counseling on the International Trade Forum as part of a trial to increase access to U.S. Government information. Call the TIC for more information.


Software and Data Products

Hundreds of export-related software products and databases are on the market. Some categories include tariff information, export accounting software, documentation software, duty drawback software, contact directories, trade' statistics, market information, and export control software. While there are far too many products to list in this article, specialists at the TIC can provide advice and contact information.

For international market information and trade statistics, the National Trade Data Bank[R] on CD-ROM is the most comprehensive source. The cost is $59 per month or $575 per year. Other excellent resources include the Export and Import Trade Database, which includes very detailed export and import statistics, and the International Data Base, which includes up-to-date global demographic and social information. Both CD-ROMs available from the Bureau of the Census. Finally, the United Nations Statistical Division can provide import and export data from more than 100 countries. Call the TIC for more information on any of these products. While few software products are on the market to help you determine duty rates, this situation is rapidly changing. For example, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Tariff Database Pilot provides tariff-related information from the 18 APEC member countries. This useful CD-ROM is available from STAT-LFSA for $250. Call the TIC for more information on this and other tariff software products.


Fax Retrieval Systems

If your business hasn't fully entered the information age, all is not lost if you have a fax machine. By calling the TIC's free 24-hour fax retrieval system, the Global Export Information Service, you can order information on export programs, federal and state trade contacts, and the GATT and Uruguay Round agreements. In addition, you can retrieve country-specific information provided by regional offices at the ITA. Simply dial 1-800-872-8723 (1-800-USA-TRADE) and select option one to enter the fax retrieval system. Businesses can receive the U.S. Department of Commerce's Trade Opportunity Leads through STAT-USA Fax. The system also includes access to a variety of other useful documents. Guests can call (202) 482-0005 from their fax machine and order document number 800 for instructions on using the systems and a menu. The subscription fee is $29.95 per quarter.

For financing information, the Ex-Im Bank operates the Export Financing Hotline. The fax retrieval system can be reached at 1-800-565-EXIM. It includes information on Ex-Im Bank program policies, fees, and press releases.
Another useful source of information is the U.S. Department of State's Overseas Business Services fax retrieval and bulletin board system. It contains very useful information on travel advisories, visas, medical facilities abroad, currency activity, customs regulations, and embassy locations. Call 202-647-3000 to use the system. There is no better time than the present to use information technology to increase your international competitiveness. In the information age, those who fail to move swiftly to harness the powerful technological tools at their disposal risk losing customers to more innovative competitors.
The Trade Information Center is here to provide expert export assistance on this and a wide range of other topics.
COPYRIGHT 1996 U.S. Government Printing Office
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning 
from (CLICK BNET): BNET
author: BRYAN D. LARSON

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