U.S. Commerce Department Releases Updated Trade Finance Guide

July 30, 2008

Because of your interest in international trade issues, I am writing to let you know that the U.S. Department of Commerce has published an updated version of the Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters. This concise and easy-to-understand tool was created specifically to help U.S. small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigate the often difficult landscape of trade finance, a topic that is critical for successfully entering and succeeding in today’s increasingly competitive global marketplace. Last year’s guide was well received by the U.S. exporting community: Over 5,000 hard copies were distributed to the public and the on-line version was downloaded more than 20,000 times from Commerce websites.

The Trade Finance Guide contains 12 two-page chapters, which offer the basics of the most commonly used financing techniques. The chapters contain short descriptions and key points of each technique. A user-friendly, visually easy-to-comprehend chart accompanies each section and offers the user a brief, to-the-point statement of the applicability, risks, pros and cons of each financing method. The second edition includes a new chapter on foreign exchange risk management, as well as updates to all of the other chapters. The additional content is in response to the interest expressed by a number of SMEs that wish to export more efficiently in foreign currencies by mitigating the risk of currency exchange loss.

Exporters can obtain complimentary hard copies from the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E), and from the Commercial Service’s global network of domestic Export Assistance Centers and overseas posts. Meanwhile, you can download an electronic version of the Guide by clicking on the links pasted below.

http://www.ita.doc.gov/media/Publications/abstract/trade_finance_guide2008desc.html

The Trade Finance Guide was created in partnership with FCIB, a prominent business educator of credit and risk management to exporting companies of every size, and in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Export–Import Bank of the United States, the International Factoring Association, and the Association of Trade & Forfaiting in the Americas.

For the benefits of members of the Montana Associated Technology Roundtables (MATR) , we encourage you to consider setting up an Internet link to the Trade Finance Guide on your website as well as publishing a mention of the Guide in your newsletter. If you are interested in receiving complimentary hard copies for distribution to interested MATR members, staff, and participants of your organization's sponsored events, or if you have questions about the content of the Guide, please feel free to contact me via email at yuki.fujiyama@mail.doc.gov or via telephone at (202) 482-3468.

Sincerely,

Yuki J. Fujiyama

Office of Finance

International Trade Administration

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 1800A

Washington, DC 20230

Tel: (202) 482-3468 (Direct)