As an exporter, ensuring your documents are recognized and accepted by the destination country is crucial. This can sometimes involve a process called "legalization," which verifies the authenticity of your commercial and legal documents issued in the United States. Here, we'll break down the different methods, requirements and how you can streamline this process for smoother exports ..read more

The global trade landscape is shifting. The once-dominant U.S.-China trade relationship is undergoing a complex transformation, while regional trade partnerships like the one between the United States and Mexico are gaining traction. (The United States bought more goods from Mexico than China in 2023 for the first time in 20 years.) Amid these changes, American businesses are showing resilience and adaptability. The trade deficit narrowed significantly in 2023, and exports hit record highs, despite a sluggish global economy ..read more

Exporting opens doors to exciting opportunities, but the details—documentation, compliance, AES, shipping regulations, FTAs—can quickly turn excitement into frustration. Have you ever wondered if you, as an exporter, are doing it right ..read more

The United States has entered into free trade agreements (FTAs) with 20 countries to encourage trade by providing reduced tariffs or eliminating them altogether. To qualify for an FTA, the goods must be grown or mined in one of the partner countries, or the goods must satisfy the rules of origin set out in the FTA. Most FTAs have three to five criteria that can be used to qualify your goods. When creating your international paperwork, you will need to provide a certificate of origin that specifies the criteria used to qualify for the FTA ..read more

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The value of an Export Compliance Program (ECP) has been well documented in this previous Passages post. Exporters, what has prevented you from implementing an Export Compliance Program ..read more

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With an average of almost $350 million in commercial transactions taking place every day, France is the world’s seventh-largest economy and Europe’s third-largest economy after Germany and the UK. France’s stable business climate attracts investors from around the world; the French government makes doing business relatively easy by devoting significant resources to supporting foreign investment through policy, good marketing, overseas trade promotion offices and investor support mechanisms ..read more

Expanding your business internationally presents exciting opportunities, but the complexities of exporting can feel overwhelming. Have you ever wondered, as an exporter, how your way of doing business compares to others?  ..read more

Once you have determined that your product originates and qualifies for a free trade agreement (FTA), you will need to certify and document that qualification. This is one of the last steps in the process of claiming preferential treatment under an FTA. In previous articles, we explained the other steps: determining tariff rates, reading rules of origin and using the three primary methods of qualification.   ..read more