Updated 4/13/06

Trade Shows

• USDA Sponsored Shows
  A list of food and agricultural shows around the world that are endorsed or supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service.

 Export Certificates and Documents  

• WSDA Food Safety Program
  Issues export certificates for food products that are manufactured in Washington by a wholesale food processor licensed by the WSDA Food Safety Program.  These certificates are also known as Certificates of Free Sale, Sanitary Certificates, Certificates of Sanitation, and Certificates of Origin.
• WSDA Inspection Services
  Inspects and issues export certificates including phytosanitary certificates, seed and nursery certification, etc.
• WSDA Organic Certification Program
  Certifies organic growers and processors in Washington and works closely with the USDA to implement the National Organic Program.

 Federal Trade Assistance Agencies

• Export.gov
  The USDA and U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) Web site for exporters contains information and links to all of the federal government's export information.
• USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
  Promotes the export of U.S. agricultural products and has a variety of export promotion and assistance programs, including information on foreign markets, export assistance programs, etc.
• USDA Library of Export Requirements
  Includes information on country requirements and approved plants for export.
• U.S. Department of Commerce
  The primary federal agency for trade promotion and trade policy, especially for non-agricultural items.  It can also assist processed food and seafood exporters.
• U.S. Export Assistance Center – Seattle
  USDOC's local office works with the Small Business Administration and the Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington to provide one-stop assistance for Washington exporters.
• U.S. Trade Representative
  Works to resolve trade barriers that restrict U.S. exports.
• WUSATA
  Association of departments of agriculture for the western U.S. that administers USDA export assistance programs regionally.

Export Statistics

• USDA BICO Reports
  Provides U.S. agricultural export data and limited data on individual states.
• U.S. Dept. of Commerce Trade & Economic Analysis
  Collects statistics for all products exported from the U.S..  The same data is analyzed and available commercially from the Massachusetts Institute for Social and Economic Research (MISER) and  Global Trade Information Services.
• Washington Agricultural Statistics Service (WASS)
  Maintains detailed records on crop production, farm costs and income, farmgate values of most crops.

Local Trade Assistance Organizations

• Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development (CTED) 
  The state agency responsible for economic development, including promotion of non-food exports.
• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
  JETRO assists companies that want to export to Japan or setup offices there.  JETRO has a Senior Trade Advisor assigned to help Washington companies from CTED's office in downtown Seattle.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
  The Washington SBDC provides valuable counseling, training and research services to business owners or prospective owners, operating in a rapidly changing business environment.  SBDCs can also advise companies on how to build their business strengths and prepare for the export market.
• Trade Development Alliance - Seattle/King Co.
  Non-profit organization encouraging international trade.  Organizes trade missions and assists inbound missions.
• Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT)
  Non-profit association of business, labor and other interested groups to promote trade.   WCIT is very active in developing and proposing trade policy on behalf of Washington State businesses.
• Washington State University IMPACT Center
  IMPACT (International Marketing Program for Agricultural Commodities Trade) utilizes the expertise of university scientists in research, education and communication to solve marketing problems and transfer technology to exporters of agricultural products.
• World Trade Center Tacoma
  Part of the World Trade Center organization, the WTC-Tacoma provides assistance and training to importers and exporters, organizes trade missions and provides access to WTC's affiliates worldwide . 

Financing

• Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington (EAFCW)
  A state-funded organization representing the Ex-Im City bank in Washington helps companies find solutions to their export financing problems.
• USDA/FAS Export Financing Programs
  Assists U.S. food and agriculture companies to reduce their financial risks and costs in exporting to developing countries.  For information about these programs, contact Jon Sonen

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