California Center for International Trade Development
at State Center Community College District
"Making the World Your Market"
Resources
How California’s Economy Benefits From International Trade Investment​
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International trade – both exports and imports – supports 4.4 million California jobs. These trade-related jobs are at large and small companies, on farms, in factories, and at the headquarters of California’s globally engaged firms.
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California exports hundreds of billions of dollars in goods and services annually, including computer equipment, agricultural products, software and moves. Vast majority of California are small and medium-sized companies with less than 500 workers.
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Customers in 225 countries around the world buy California-grown and manufactured goods and services. Top markets like Mexico, Canada, and China buy billions of dollars of California products and services annually.

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Imports lower prices and increase choices for California companies and families.
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Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have led to rapid export growth to partner countries. America’s FTA partners purchased 10.9 times more goods per capita from California than non-FTA countries did in 2012.
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Foreign owned companies invest in California and employ 567,000 Californians.
Federal Agency Resources
Export-Import Bank of the United States – Official export credit agency of the United States that assists in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets.
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FAS Homepage – FAS improves foreign market access for U.S. products, builds new markets, increases competitiveness for U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace and provides assistance to developing foreign countries.
U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade – Serves as a source for U.S. export and import statistics and provides regulations governing the reporting of all export shipments from the United States.
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Marketing Service – Provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues.
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – APHIS keeps export markets open for American agricultural products by working to eliminate unjustified sanitary or phytosanitary (SPS) barriers.
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration – Strengthens the competitiveness of the U.S. exporting industry, promotes trade and investment, and ensures fair trade through the rigorous enforcement of our trade laws and agreements.
U.S. Commercial Service – Part of the U.S. Department of Commerce that assists small-to medium-sized companies in accessing international markets.
U.S. Small Business Administration, International Trade – Provides aid, counsel, assistance and protection to the interests of small business concerns.
U.S. State Department – Primary voice of the United States around the world. U.S. Ambassadors urge business friendly economic reforms, advocate for U.S. businesses, and highlight the critical role of entrepreneurship in development.
Office of the U.S. Trade Representatives – Responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, and overseeing trade negotiations with other countries. The U.S. Trade Representative serves as the president’s principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues.
U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of International Affairs – Supports economic prosperity at home by encouraging financial stability and sound economic policies abroad.
U.S. Trade and Development Agency – Helps developing and middle-income countries establish enabling environments for trade and investment. USTDA supports various forms of investment analysis, technical assistance, orientation visits, and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment.
Millennium Challenge Corporation – Administers the Millennium Challenge account, an innovative foreign assistance program designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth.
U.S. Agency for International Development – Promotes private sector-led economic growth and trade and investment between the United States and developing countries.
Overseas Private Investment Corporation – Mobilizes U.S. private sector capital to foster economic and social development in emerging and developing countries.
Additional Exporter Resources
International and Domestic Trade Shows and Marketing Events – Calendar listing of a variety of promotional activities organized by FAS offices overseas and State Regional Trade Groups.
Getting Started – Lists of resources, products, and services to assist U.S. suppliers.
Overseas Offices (Posts) – Directory of offices in over 70 countries around the world.
Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) – Reports that provide information on the agricultural economy, products and issues in foreign countries that are likely to have an impact on U.S. agricultural production and trade.
Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS) – System that includes international agricultural, fish, forestry and textile product trade statistics dating from the inception of the Harmonized coding system to present.
Agricultural Tariff Tracker – The Agricultural Tariff Tool is a web application that queries tariff schedules and rate information resulting from Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Exporting – Tool to assist U.S. food, fish, fiber, and forestry product suppliers to create their export marketing plan.
Export Readiness Assessment – Export Readiness Assessment tool to determine your business’ export preparedness
HS Code – Schedule B Lookup – In order to assist exporters and filers determine their correct export commodity code (Schedule B number), the Foreign Trade Division (FTD) provides a Schedule B search tool
Incoterms – Incoterms® are a set of rules which define the responsibilities of sellers and buyers for the delivery of goods under sales contracts
Free Trade Agreements – Trade Agreements reduce barriers to U.S. exports, and protect U.S. interests and enhance the rule of law in the FTA partner country
Global Edge – Provides international business resources
Cyborlink – Contains information about international business customs and etiquette
Freight Forwarders – Directory of freight forwarding services
Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) – WUSATA’s programs are designed specifically to help agribusinesses based in the Western United States explore, enter and expand into the global marketplace. Learn more – Branded Program, Generic Program and Export Education
California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) – CDFA is organized into six divisions, which provide valuable services to producers, merchants and the public. Many of the services are provided in partnership with local county offices of the agricultural commissioners and sealers
Specialty Crop Trade Council (SCTC) – SCTC provides negotiated export ocean freight rates, arbitration services, industry resources, and strong advocacy on behalf of its members
Safe Food Alliance – Services include GMP[D1] Audits, Food Safety Training and Consulting, Laboratory services by our ISO 17025 certified laboratories, Commodity Inspections, Arbitration and much more