Uncle Sam
Government Publications Department
Regional Depository Library

STAT-USA Department of Commerce's subscription service contains trade and business information. The National Trade Data Bank (NTDB) and the Economic Bulletin Board (EBB) are two of the most useful databases at the Web site. The NTDB is a comprehensive source of international trade data. It contains thousands of files including basic export information and export opportunities, trade statistics, market research reports, overseas contacts and demographic, political and socio-economic conditions in hundreds of countries. The EBB contains U.S. economic information. GLOBUS, an international procurement marketplace for U.S. business, is also on NTDB. The Web site is searchable free in the Government Publications Department through the depository library password.

Mondaq.com
This United Kingdom site for business people and professionals involved in international trade and investment provides individual country information on economics, legislation, regulations, finance, consultancy, taxation, and intellectual property. Content varies according to countries. Corporate contributors include Price Waterhouse, Ernst and Young, Arthur Anderson and many others. Although non-governmental, it is included here for its potential. The site is free, but registration is required.

University of Michigan Documents Center
Excellent all-around site for international trade statistics and related subject statistics. Comprehensive links to foreign government resources.

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Background Notes
Brief, factual summaries concerning the people, history, government, economy and foreign relations of countries.
Government Publications has print copies

World Factbook
The CIA's brief guide to country information.
Government Publications has print copies

Permanent Missions to the United Nations
Country information, e-mail addresses, and lots of country links for each UN member.

Post Reports
Prepared by the State Department post in country, these country reports are published for the employees and their families. They provide information on public institutions, medical facilities, food, clothing, arts, and commerce and industry.

Country Studies
Each book in the series deals with a particular foreign country, describing and analyzing its economic, national security, political, and social systems and institutions and examining the interrelationships of those systems and institutions and the ways that they are shaped by cultural factors. Excellent. About 85 countries available.
Government Publications has copies. Three day check out permitted.

Country Commercial Guides
Current, in-depth reports present comprehensive looks at a country's commercial environment through economic, political, and market analyses. The reports are prepared annually at U.S. Embassies through the combined efforts of several agencies. CCGs are also available on-line at STAT-USA and on the NTDB CD-ROM .

IMF Publications
Full-text country reports, policy statements, and economic surveys. Excellent information on political and economic developments and trade information. Tax system information is included. Many tables of statistics. PDF format, some issues 100 pages long.

Country Reports on Economic Policy and Trade State Department
Submitted annually to Congress by the Department of State, these reports provide a single, comprehensive and comparative analysis of the economic policies and trade practices of U.S. trading partners. Contains key economic indicators.
Government Publications has print copies

Country Profiles  ELDEIS
(Electronic Development and Environment Information System) offers access to a large amount country information-sectoral profiles of Agriculture, Environment, Economics, Gender, Politics, Education, and Health. Other resources include links to current news, maps, statistics, CIA and IMF country profiles, industrial and trade profiles, and human rights records. Covers the nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Middle East.

International Trade Administration
At the ITA page, link to site map for easier access Valuable for trade information by industry sector and information by region and country. Includes trade statistics, leading markets by geographic regions and market profiles on key industrial and service clusters. Country Commercial Guides available.

USA Trade
Country Commercial Guides, export regulations, tariff rates and tax information. Some information requires registration which is free but only available to businesses.

Tradeport
Provides an excellent guide to various aspects of exporting: market research aids, licensing, shipping, tariff and country information.

Academic Universe U of M only
Choose Sources and then Country & Region Reports.

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U.S. Global Trade Outlook, 1995-2000
Information on selected industrial countries and selected emerging markets in "Assessing Our Best Markets" and information on seven industries competitive internationally in "Expanding Opportunities for Industry."
Government Publications has print copy

U.S. Foreign Trade Highlights
Provides data on U.S. international trade in goods and services. General trade statistics including historical data and more detailed statistics on the top 50 trading partners and top ten exports and imports.
Government Publications has print copy

Economic indicators, prices, trade and press releases for industrialized countries and a dozen emerging countries.

U.S. Imports and Exports by SIC National Bureau of Economic Research
Value of U.S. imports and exports by 4-digit SIC codes, 1958-1994. Download.

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Guides & General Trade Information

A Basic Guide to Exporting
Department of Commerce publication covering such topics as export strategy and advice, preparation of products, making contacts, pricing, documentation and shipping.
Government Publications has print copy

Official Export Guide
Contains export "how-to" information including export documents, export administration regulations and Schedule B (the official schedules of commodity classifications used by shippers). The "country profiles" section contains a description of the country, key contacts, best export opportunities, tariff information, marketing and sales channels, trade barriers and more.
Government Publications has print copy (KF 1987 A15 033)

National Trade Estimate on Foreign Trade Barriers
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative provides this inventory on barriers affecting U.S. exports, foreign direct investment and intellectual property rights.
Government Publications has print copy

Trade Compliance Center Department of Commerce
Trade agreement information, some country information.

Schedule B (Statistical Classification of Domestic and Foreign Commodities Exported from the United States)
Every item exported is assigned a unique 10 digit, identification code. This is the classification schedule. Searchable on the Census Web site.
Government Publications has print copy

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
HTML version providing applicable tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the U.S., it is based on the International Harmonized System, the global classification that is used to describe most world trade in goods. Download in WordPerfect 8.0 at the U.S. International Trade Commission
Government Publications has print copy

NAFTA
This site links to the full-text of NAFTA

International Trade Law Sources on the Internet

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Tennessee Small Business Development Center
The International Trade Center here offers counseling for potential and current small business exporters. The Small Business Center offers free consultations.

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Send questions/comments/suggestions to Mary Freilich