Foreign Trade

Part A: Export Compliance and Regulations

• Video A1 - Export Compliance Introduction (1:45 mins)
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    Here's what you need to accurately and easily complete key shipping information, comply with the law and take advantage of the duty-free benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Watch the videos in sequence or go directly to the videos that you need NOW for how-to information. The video presenters are all international trade specialists with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Enjoy the show, and we wish you many successful international transactions. For supporting information, Welcome to Exporting 101.
    
    
    • For questions, call 1-800-USA-TRADE or send e-mail.
      
    
    
• Video A2 - A Quick Guide to the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) (5:21 mins)
  
  
  • Who is the U.S. Principle Party in Interest (USPPI)?
• What is a shipment and when you must file in the Automated Export System (AES)?

• Video A3 - Taxes and Tariffs (5:06 mins)
  
  
  • Duties and taxes are fees imposed on goods shipped from one country to another. It's the responsibility of the shipper to calculate them and for the buyer to pay them. This video introduces you to online tools for calculating these fees for more than 100 different countries.
    • Tax and Tariff data base #1 (no registration required)
      
    • Tax and Tariff data base #2 (registration required)
      
    • Step-by-step information on finding duties and taxes
    • For questions, call 1-800-USA-TRADE or send e-mail
      

• Video A4 - Exporting Commercial Items: ECCNs and EAR99 (8:13 mins)
  Source: Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) www.BIS.DOC.gov
       Does my product have an ECCN?
• Where do I find my ECCN?
• What is the ECCN used for?
• What does EAR99 mean?

• Video A5 - The Commerce Control List and Self-Classification (10:34 mins)
  Source: Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) www.BIS.DOC.gov


• Where do I find the Commerce Control list?
• Do I need a license to export my good?
• How to Reference the ECCN
• Designation of EAR99
                                   

• Video A6 - Exporting EAR99 Items: Screening Your Transaction, Lists to Check and Red Flags (10:19 mins)
  Source: Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) www.BIS.DOC.gov


• Screening Your Transactions
• No License Required (NLR) Rules
• Lists to Check Before Exporting
• Red Flags
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

• Video A7 - Embargoes and Sanctions (6:08 mins)
  Source: Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) www.BIS.DOC.gov
  
• Shipping to Embargoed Countries
• Shipping to Sanctioned Countries
• Special controls
• Office of Foreign Assets and Control (OFAC)
       

• Video A8 - What is a Freight Forwarder? Part 1 (3:31 mins)
  
  
  • Pro Forma Invoice
  • Help you Ship Economically
  • Help you Ship Safely
  • Ship in Compliance with U.S. export laws
  • International Transportation Department
  
  
• Video A9 - What is a Freight Forwarder? Part 2 (2:33 mins)
  
  
• Letter of Credit
• Commercial Invoice
• Processing the Bill of Lading
• Finding a Freight Forwarder


• Video A10 - Foreign Trade Zones (8:45 mins)
  
  
• What is a Foreign Trade Zone?
• Types of Foreign Trade Zones
• Foreign Trade Zone Reporting Requirements
• Foreign Trade Zone Filing Benefits

Part B: Reporting Electronic Export Information (EEI)

• Video B1 - Classifying Your Commodity (4:17 mins)
  
  • What is a Harmonized Code?
• How to find a Schedule B Classification number?
  
  
• AESDirect - A Complete Overview
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    Video B2 - Registering for AESDirect (4:54 mins)
    
    • A how-to guide on registering for the Census Bureau’s free, Internet-based filing system, AESDirect.  AESDirect is accessible by going to www.aesdirect.gov.
    
    Video B3 - Filing a Shipment in AESDirect (4:16 mins)
    • A tour of the AESDirect web site and how to use the special features of the system to make Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing process easier.
      
    
    Video B4 - Response Messages from AES (3:34 mins)
    • A discussion of what response messages the AES can and will send in different filing scenarios.  The video discusses the proper action(s) after receiving the different response messages.
      
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    Video B5- Proof of Filing Citations (2:57 mins)
    
    • A look on how to properly annotate loading documents with the Internal Transaction Number or ITN.
      
      
• Video B6 - AESDirect - The Shipment Manager (6:45 mins)
  
  
• A Tour of the Shipment Manager
• Easily locate, manage and monitor EEI submitted through AESDirect
• Quickly determine current EEI status with CBP
• Download export data to a spreadsheet


• Video B7 - Elimination of the SSN in the AES (5:08 mins)
  
  
• Employee Identification Number (EIN)
• How to Obtain an EIN
• Confidential Information

Part C: Using Trade Data for Export Planning and Strategy

• Video C1 - Accessing and Using the Trade Statistics (with USA Trade Online) (5:31 mins)
  
  
  • Increase Global Sales
  • Find Emerging Markets for your Products
  • Monitor Foreign Competition
  • Accessing and Using Trade Data
  • Official Source of U.S. Export and Import Statistics
  
  
• Video C2 - State Exports (with USA Trade Online) (5:55 mins)
  
  
  • Industry and product commodity classification
  • Identify top markets
  • Analyze time series data
  • Obtain values and growth rates
  • Other advanced report options
    

Part D: Trade Agreements

• Video D1 - Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Tariff Tool (7:48 mins)
  
  
  • Free Trade Agreement
  • Tariff Rates
  • Staging Basket
  • Base Rates
  • Research potential new markets
  
  
• Video D2 - North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Basics (1:52 mins)
  
  
• NAFTA allows your company to ship most goods to customers in Canada and Mexico duty free as long as they are comprised mostly of U.S. components.  This video covers the key parts of the agreement and introduces the process for obtaining the benefits.
  
  • For questions, send e-mail
    
  
  
• Video D3 - NAFTA Certificates of Origin Part I (1:50 mins) Part II (cont) (:48 secs)
  
  
• Although not mandatory NAFTA Certificates of Origin are used to obtain duty-free or reduced duty rates for qualified products entering member countries (U.S., Canada, Mexico). This video will help you correctly complete this important legal document.
  
  
  • Certificate of Origin (PDF)
    
  • For questions, send e-mail
    
    
• Video D4 - Preference Criterion (2:39 mins)
  
  
• A document is required in order to receive the duty-free benefit granted by Canadian and Mexican customs. This video guides you through completing the document, focusing on several key fields that often challenge exporters new to the process.
  
  
  • Annex 308.1 (Word, PDF)
    
  • Preference Criteria (Word, PDF)
    
  • For questions, send e-mail
    
    
• Video D5 - NAFTA Rules of Origin (3:13 mins)
  
  
  • NAFTA Rules of Origin are crucial for qualifying your products for the duty-free benefit. This video shows you how to use the Harmonized Code system and what to do when foreign components are included in your product which triggers using the Rules of Origin.
    
    
    • Regional Value Content Formula (Word, PDF)
      
    • For questions, send e-mail