Websites | Databases | eBooks | Reading List

In order to take advantage of international opportunities and succeed in today’s business climate, it has become essential to understand the legal, financial, and cultural issues involved in operating in an international business environment.

Websites

• Comprehensive International Business Websites

  Business.gov
  This is a comprehensive portal providing links to all major U.S. government websites related to importing and exporting.

• GlobalEdge
  This comprehensive site from Michigan State University has links to sources for country information, international finance, statistics, global news, trade law, trade leads, company directories, and much more.
• Virtual International Business & Economic Sources
  This site from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte provides links to internet sources of international business and economic information, including international statistics, country information, company information, emerging markets, foreign exchange and more.
• Doing Business Abroad

  Local Government Trade Assistance

  Choose Maryland
  Information from Maryland's Office of International Business. OIB offers individual counseling to firms interested in exporting.

• Montgomery County Department of Economic Development – International Business
  Includes information on export assistance to Montgomery County companies and assistance to international companies wanting to locate in Montgomery County.

• Federal Government Trade Assistance

  Doing Business Abroad
  Help from the State Department for those doing business abroad, including links to country desk officers and to other agencies.

• Export.Gov
  From the US Government Export Portal. Links to trade specialists for counseling, trade events, market research sources and international trade partners. Allows you to explore all the basics of exporting - is it right for your business?
• SBA Office of International Trade
  Help for exporters from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Includes a detailed Guide to Exporting, as well as information on trade markets, trade counseling, financing, and legal assistance.
• Trade Information Center
  Comprehensive guide to federal export procedures, export assistance programs, export counseling, trade leads and more. Also available by phone at 1-800-USA-TRADE.

• More Helpful Government Sources for Doing Business Abroad

  Basic Guide to Exporting
  Online version of the Department of Commerce's excellent guide.

• BIS
  Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security website provides information on all aspects of export controls. Valuable for fact sheets, licensing information, FAQs, and counseling about the Export Administration Regulations.
• BuyUsa.Gov U.S. Commercial Service
  This Commerce Department service helps U.S. companies find international business partners and international companies find U.S. suppliers. Also provides links to their local U.S. and international offices.
• Export Administration Regulations
  An up-to-date database with all official regulations and policies governing exporting.
• International Trade Administration
  ITA, the government's export advocate hosts a site useful for links to Trade Statistics, State Export Data Statistics, and Export America magazine.
• IRS Tax Information for International Businesses
  Provides general information on international taxation, as well as information on tax treaties, tax withholding, tax statistics, and the latest news on international taxes.
• U.S. Department of Commerce
  This portal links to trade opportunities, such as BuyUsa.com, an e-marketplace sponsored by Commerce Department, for U.S. business.
• U.S. Customs & Border Protection
  Takes you to both commercial and personal customs procedures and requirements, statistics, publications, and forms. There is an easily searchable Harmonized Tariff Schedule to obtain commodity code numbers; interactive tariff and trade database, as well as U.S. import requirements.

• Other Helpful Sites for Trade Information

  Federation of International Trade Associations
  International Trade/Import-Export Portal. Provides information on trade leads and links to other trade related web sites.

• MyExports.com
  Links you to the Export Yellow Pages for U.S. Exporters and the U.S. Trade Assistance Directory for Export Service Providers. Also has links to Country Commercial Guides, Basic Guide to Exporting, and resources for assistance, financing, and promotion.

• Tradeport
  Extremely useful site for international trade information and export assistance for companies of all sizes. Valuable for its Tutorials, Desktop References, Trade Events Calendar, and Bookstore.
  

• International Company Information

  Europages
  European company listings, searchable by company name, product or service, and business sector. Includes company catalogs, yellow pages, and business news links.

• International Stock Exchanges
  Links to stock and commodity exchanges worldwide, provided by Rutgers University Libraries.
• International Telephone Directories
  Telephone directories on the web. Includes residential and business directories.
• Thomas Global Register
  Worldwide directory of manufacturers, searchable by product, service, or company name. Free registration required.
• Country Information

  Background Notes
  Country profile publications produced by the State Department include facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations.

• Country Commercial Guides
  These guides, produced by the Department of Commerce, are searchable by industry, country, region, and date. They include information on contacts, market research, trade events, investment climate, political and investment climate, and more.

• World Factbook
  Country profiles, compiled by the CIA, provide information on geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues.

• International Business Etiquette

  Business Netiquette International
  Provides email etiquette for business. Also includes international dialing codes and international addresses and salutations.

• Executive Planet
  Includes Business Culture Guides describing etiquette and culture in the U.S. and many other countries.

Databases

• Business & Company Resource Center
  Searchable database of periodical articles, company information, and industry information. Company information may be searched by country, as well as industry and company name
• Business Source Elite
  Searchable database of periodical articles, many full-text, from popular business magazines, scholarly journals, and trade publications.
• Mergent Online
  Provides information on public companies, worldwide, searchable by country, company name, ticker symbol, or industry. Company information may include detailed financials, recent news, business description, subsidiaries, executives, stock information and more. Also contains country profiles with maps, descriptions, detailed statistics, and stock exchange information.
  
• SYBWorld
  Online version of The Statesman’s Yearbook. Country profiles include statistics, culture, government & politics, economy, industry, and international trade.
  

eBooks

Trade Unions of the World
Contains a general discussion of unions, as well as coverage of trade unions throughout the world. Entries include contact information, web site URLs, international affiliations, and more.

Reading List