Dear Darlros,
There is a lot of information regarding import/export issues,
steps-by-steps and how-to-start guides: sites and institutes for
business men nationwide looking for doing business internationally.
The kind of specific information regarding tax, legal or custom
requirements depends on the market you expect to deal with, since
trade agreements are always bilateral.
I did a topic by topic research and I will give you a guide of
resources where you can start.
How to Start an Import Export Business
http://www.importexportcoach.com/feature_stories_3.htm
Very helpful article: there you will find a list of online import
export business start-up resources and tools (including basic
regulations, business plans, starting tips and much more).
US Gobernment Export Portal
http://www.export.gov/
This is the very first site you should check: information on every
field. From export counselling to trade events, everything you might
need regarding tax policies, information about markets, countries,
products, links, trade leads, finance, other relevant gobernment
departments you should check...
Import/Export Challenges
International traders must overcome legal, tax and other obstacles.
http://www.stlcommercemagazine.com/archives/august2000/import_export.html
Interesting overview of exporting/importing legal issues.
Export Zone
ExportZone USA is an information help center dedicated to the
development of USA exports to the world: trade leads, product
assistance, USA regional, intrenational and federal assistance.
http://www.exportzone.com/
California Chamber of Commerce
http://www.calchamber.com/index.php3?main=business_resources/international.htm
Receive guidance in the international market. Research buyers and
suppliers for international markets, learn about importing and
exporting. Although there is some specific information for californian
entrepeneurs, you can fin a lot of resources for exporters/importers
in general.
SBA – Office of International Trade
New-to-Export small business
http://www.sba.gov/oit/export/index.html
“Finding overseas markets, dealing with the intial complexities of
exporting, and financing export sales are some of the challenges
facing smaller firms seeking to participate in international trade. To
help you meet these challenges, the U.S. Small Business Administration
offers aid to current and potential small exporters through two major
programs: business development assistance and financial assistance.
These programs are provided through our network of field offices
around the country”. I found a very interesting section named Caution
for new exporters, the 12 most common mistakes at:
http://www.sba.gov/oit/export/12mistk.html
Import Export Links
http://www.importexportcoach.com/import_export_links_1.htm
Complete list of resources regarding export/import issues. Here you
have some examples of what you’ll find: International Marketing Plans,
The Import Export Mailing List, Forum for International Trade
Training, Canada United States Bureau, Export-Import International
Business-to-Business Help Center, International Trade Terms, The
Federation of International Trade Associations, International Chamber
of Commerce, Entrepreneur International, US Small Business
Administration, Guide to Exporting (primer on identifying
international markets and export financing. Great small business info,
marketing & promo ideas, etc) and hundrets more.
The Country Studies/Area Handbooks Program
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html
"The Country Studies Series presents a description and analysis of the
historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national
security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world
and examines the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they
are shaped by cultural factors".
US Census Bureau - Foreign Trade Statistics
http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/foreign-trade/www/
GlobalEDGE
http://globaledge.msu.edu/ibrd/ibrd.asp
"A directory of international business resources categorized by
specific orientation and content. Each resource has been selected and
reviewed by the globalEDGE Team".
BIS Assistance to Exporters
http://www.bxa.doc.gov/
"The Bureau of Industry and Security, formerly the Bureau of Export
Administration, has three offices available to counsel you on your
obligations under the Export Administration Regulations and assist in
determining your licensing requirements".
You may also check:
Google Directories > Business > International Business and Trade >
Directories
http://directory.google.com/Top/Business/International_Business_and_Trade/Directories/
There are many other resources. I trust these ones, and they will lead
you to other sources of interest. All of these are starting points for
your research.
If you need any other information regarding a specific country, just
let me know.
Search Strategy:
Keywords:
Import
Export
Trade
International Leads
Statistic Market
"Export Regulation"
Regards,
Lrargerich |
Clarification of Answer by
lrargerich-ga
on
05 Jul 2002 13:11 PDT
You may also be interested in joining the free Import-Export Mailing
List from Intermart: "a free email discussion group where I can
monitor and post questions and answers regarding the mechanics of
international trade".
You should also join the "Shipping Solutions Newsletter".
I did not use this service previously, but it sounds specific and
useful.
http://www.intermart-inc.com/messageboard.html
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
darlros-ga
on
05 Jul 2002 18:38 PDT
I guess I should have been more specific, I'm glad someone asked for
clarification instead of just giving me a hodgepodge of links that
show up on the first couple of pages of a search on google. I am
located in the US, but as a native of South Korea I travel back and
forth frequently. I am particularly interested in import/export
between Asia (China, Korea, Taiwan, etc.) and the US. My background
is in convenience stores and restaurants. That's where I noticed a
demand, or rather I had a demand for a consistent source for
disposable cups/lids, paper and plastics bags, guests checks, POS
receipt paper, take out boxes, and other such items. The big national
wholesale supply companies were somewhat consistent, but overpriced
due to too much overhead. The smaller companies had the best prices,
but very inconsistent due to very antiquated business practices.
Having talked to owners of the smaller supply companies I gained a
little insight on the system. Most of the smaller companies compete
by buying dry goods from Asia, either direct from the factory (rare)
or through middle men (the norm). The middle men are more like
hustlers as far as I can tell. They take an order for a product to be
delivered by a certain date, then they scurry and try to find the
closest and cheapest thing in bulk. Eventually delivering a
substandard product, usually in the wrong color or style, and at a
much later date. Meanwhile the retailers on the bottom end of the
chain have run out of their normal supply and are forced to settle for
the substandard products. I have run several well organized and
profitable B2C companies, but would like to get into B2B. I see a
strong demand and I believe I have the organizational skills to
compete. I am searching for as much specific information as I can
that deals with “Importing dry goods directly from manufacturers in
Asia to wholesaler suppliers in the US.”
|
Clarification of Answer by
lrargerich-ga
on
06 Jul 2002 10:06 PDT
Hi Darlros!
Well, our focus had change a lot. Now I did a specific research on
trading with Asia, with a B2B perspective, focusing on dry goods. I
have organized the information in the following sections:
Starting points
Meet the Asian sources: Trade Fairs and Travel
Asian Trading Portals
Shipping and handling from Asia
Asian manufactures of Dry Goods
Allthough this recently collected data would be specific for your
"Asian focus", you should check the links I gave you in the original
answer. There you will find very important information regarding
importing/exporting and also specific data for the Asian market. As an
American importer, you will need that information.
Starting points:
Yahoo! Business to Business Directory - Asia
http://asia.b2b.yahoo.com/
Precise info on Asian markets and business. You can search through
industries and products and you will find each company contact info.
It's hard to know wether it's a factory or just a distributor. You
will have to check the sources.
China Chamber of International Commerce
Economic Information Department
China Council for the Promotion of International Trade
http://www.chinaproducts.com/
Trade Lead, Trade Express, Trade Manual, Industry Report, Trade
Statistics, Laws and Regs, Int'l Conventions, Business Tips.
I become very interested in a site named "Ben's Almanac"(IMPORTING
FROM ASIA, GUIDELINES FOR EXPORTING, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, EXPORT
ASSISTANCE,
KOREAN TRADE). But could not reach the original site (
www.sjvls.org/cgi/bens_01?what=EXPORTS&how=sub ), you may use the
Google Cache version at:
://www.google.com/ search?q=cache:njoFFQPeCZYC:www.sjvls.org/cgi/
bens_01%3Fwhat%3DEXPORTS%26how%3Dsub+%22Importing+from+Asia%22&hl=es&ie=UTF-8
Meet the sources:
Best ways to meet manufacturers:
1) Either going to Trade Fairs worldwide, where "the number of
exhibitors provided buyers many chances of contracting goods directly
from the factory at more competitive prices" (
http://www.globalsources.com/TRADESHW/ECF/REVECF.HTM ), which I think
it's exactly what you are looking for.
Thai Trade Fair Calendar:
http://www.thailandpages.com/exhibitions2002-3.htm
Activities Calendar for Singapore:
http://activities.iesingapore.gov.sg/
Events in Singapore:
http://www.messe-duesseldorf.de/MDA/trade_fair.html
Chinese Trade Shows:
http://www.chinaproducts.com/eng2/editor/misc/show2001.phtml
Other Chinese Trade Shows:
http://www.chinaproducts.com/eng2/misc/tradeshow.phtml
Please, make a note that many of the Asian Trade Shows are located in
Germany, Mexico or even in the US, as you can see at the last two
links.
2) Or traveling around the continent:
Business Travel in China
Visa, Trade Shows & Exhibitions, Temporary Entry, Passenger Baggage,
Advertising Materials and Trade Samples, Representative Offices,
Overseas Assignment to China.
http://www.chinaproducts.com/eng2/content/contf633.phtml
Asian Trading Portals:
NetSource Asia
http://www.netsource-asia.com/
Companies, Products, Trade leads
Asia Import
http://www.asia-import.com/us/english.html
"More than 22.000 Asian Links", organized by country and product.
Global Business Web Asia
http://www.gbw.net/content/Regions/Asia/asia.htm
Many interesting resources.
Abisnet Country Index
http://www.abisnet.com/cover.htm
"ABISNET knows its markets. Having been born and raised in
South-East-Asia, ABISNET wants to open these markets for foreign
investors, companies and trade/sales bodies". Find quality info
organized by country.
Global Sources Asia
http://www.asia.globalsources.com/
Search by Product, by Supplier or by Country. Links to Product
Verticals or Country Verticals.
Shipping and handling:
SchedNet Asia
http://www.schednet.com/schedule/
Schedules from Asia / Schedules To Asia
"Two separate databases of up-to-date shipping schedules for sailings
to and from Asian ports. Through online enquiries, you may receive
freight rates and other useful information from carriers and freight
forwarders around the world".
Shipping - Business2 WebGuide
http://www.business2.com/webguide/0,,349,00.html
Leads to Transport, Cargo Tracking, Companies, Container Shipping,
Equipment & Supplies, Freight Industry, International Shipping, Online
Shipping Centers, Parcel & Package Shipping, Schedules (specific Asian
links available).
Shipping Glossary Agent (Very useful!)
http://www.insurancetranslation.com/Glossary_Agent/shipping.htm
Asian manufactures of Dry Goods:
Taiwan Trade Manufacters (by product)
http://www.taiwantrade.com/china/manufacturers.html
Asian Trade Online
http://asian-manufacturers.com/
"Your Asian Connection to Importers, Exporters, Suppliers and
Companies".
Packaging manufacturers - Asia
http://packaging-manufacturers.com/
Bags, Bottles & Jars, Boxes & Containers, Labels & Tags, Packaging
Materials, Paper.
Stationery & Office Equipment Manufacturers Asia
http://stationery-manufacturers.com/
Calculators, Money Counters, Office Equipment, Organizers & Recorders,
Paper Stationery, Pens & Pencils, Plastics & Chemicals.
Search Strategy:
"Shipping from Asia"
://www.google.com.ar/search?hl=es&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Shipping+from+Asia%22&btnG=B%FAsqueda+en+Google
"Importing from Asia"
://www.google.com.ar/search?q=%22Importing+from+Asia%22&hl=es&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=40&sa=N
paper bags plastic disposable Asia (no quotes)
://www.google.com.ar/search?hl=es&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=paper+bags+plastic+Asia&btnG=B%FAsqueda+en+Google
Good luck with your new biz!
Lrargerich
|
Clarification of Answer by
lrargerich-ga
on
06 Jul 2002 11:16 PDT
Is this the kind of information you are looking for?. If not, please,
ask me for further clarification.
Regards,
Lrargerich
|
