What is required for me to ship charity goods to Japan?

As well all know by now, on Friday, March 11, 2011, a major earthquake struck northern Japan, devastating the area and triggering a tsunami.

Many U.S. residents and organizations are generously donating food, water, medicines, and other supplies to aid in the relief efforts. In order to facilitate the movements of these goods, the U.S. Census Bureau offers the following guidance that applies to any goods not requiring a license, such as food, clothing, and medicines.

There are four Schedule B numbers that can be used when exporting humanitarian goods. Those numbers are found in Chapter 98 of the Schedule B book, under subheading 9802. Schedule B...

Schedule B Numbers

9802.10.0000 Food products

9802.20.0000 Medicinal and pharmaceutical products

9802.30.0000 Wearing apparel (including footwear and headwear)

9802.40.0000 Donated articles, not elsewhere specified

30 Export-related jobs posted in last 2 weeks

It looks like Obama's National Export Initiative is working.  Since March 1, AfterCollege Network has listed over 30 export-related jobs across the country.  Below is the current list.

1 3/23/2011 Export Control Associate United Technologies Corporation | Windsor Locks, CT Hamilton Sundstrand is among the largest global suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products. We design and manufacture aerospace systems for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft and are a major supplier for international Follow | Read more

2 3/23/2011 Export Control Associate Hamilton Sundstrand | Windsor Locks, CT Hamilton Sundstrand is among the largest global suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products. We design and manufacture aerospace systems for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft and are a major supplier for international Follow | Read more

3 3/14/2011 Export Operations Analyst United Technologies Corporation | East Hartford, CT Pratt & Whitney, a recognized leading producer of the world's most powerful jet engines, is looking for dedicated individuals to support our organization. If you would like to work in a dynamic environment and possess the motivation to incorporate new Follow | Read more

4 3/11/2011 Lead Business Area Export Representative United Technologies Corporation | Wilson, NC Hamilton Sundstrand is among the largest global suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products. We design and manufacture aerospace systems for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft and are a major supplier for international Follow | Read more

5 3/10/2011 Specialist, Export Control and Compliance United Technologies Corporation | Windsor Locks, CT Hamilton Sundstrand is among the largest global suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products. We design and manufacture aerospace systems for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft and are a major supplier for international Follow | Read more

6 3/10/2011

Exporting to EU countries by ocean freight?

If you are shipping to European Union countries via ocean freight, the EU's 24 Hour Advance Manifest Rule went into effect on December 31, 2010.  This rule is similar to US Customs rules for importation, it requires that the exporter give information regarding the shipment to the carrier, so that the carrier can can file the information with the EU authorities by the 24-hour deadline. See a graphic of the European Union's import process here.


Tips for new US importers and exporters can be found here.

U.S. International Trade Deficit Increases in January 2011

The US Census Bureau just released its trade statistics for January 2011.  According to the Census Bureau, our Nation's international trade deficit in goods and services increased to $46.3 billion in January 2011 from $40.3 billion (revised) in December 2010, as imports increased more than exports.  Exports increased to $167.7 billion in January from $163.3 billion in December. Imports increased to $214.1 billion in January from $203.6 billion in December.  Find the full release at the Census Bureau website or download the PDF directly here.

The result is a net $6 billion trade deficit in one month!  

South Korea -- Doing business in a region of instability

A great e-newsletter on international trade is published by FITA (The Federation of International Trade Associations) at http://www.fita.org/.  Their current issue discusses the opportunities of doing business in stable countries amidst a region of instability.  My previous blog discussed Turkey in the Middle East as one such example.  Another example on the opposite of the world is South Korea.

South Korea map
(c) GraphicMaps.com

In December, 2010 the United States signed a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea.   The agreement would give United States' companies more opportunities to export products to South Korea at a time where   the South Korean economy continues to grow at unprecedented rates.  While we continue to wait on Congress to ratify the agreement, on February 17 the European Parliament approved their FTA with South Korea, giving EU countries a competitive edge on doing business in South Korea.

Our Congress needs to ratify the US-South Korea FTA as soon as possible.  Here's why.  The US-South Korea free trade agreement would lower tariff rates on 95% of all U.S. consumer and industrial products, improve transparency and intellectual property rights, as well as address standards and regulation.  


Today, South Korea is the 13th largest economy in the world and the 8th largest US trading partner. That, despite the fact that most South Korean companies suffered dearly during the 1997 Asian financial crisis.  Since then, South Korea has seen spectacular growth emerging as one of the strongest economies in the world.