Chapter 11 - Government Export Assistance Programs
This chapter provides a brief description of some of the federal export assistance programs that are most applicable to U.S. businesses interested in entering the Malaysian environmental technologies market. General export promotion programs are included because they are useful to any potential exporter, but listings are specific to environmental concerns whenever possible. For practical purposes, each program description is accompanied by contact information, including principal phone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail, and Internet home page addresses where available. The descriptions are categorized by the following topics:
• Overview of Key Agencies
• Environment-Specific Export Programs
• General Export Counseling
• Country-Specific Export Counseling
• Special Market Access and Technical Assistance
• Export Licenses and Controls
Key Agencies and Organizations
U.S. government agencies and departments actively support programs to help environmental firms compete and expand in Asia and the Pacific. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), primarily through the U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP), plays the largest role in providing technical assistance and promoting the transfer of environmental technologies to Malaysia. The Department of Commerce also plays a key role in promoting environmental technology exports. Other U.S. government agencies also provide export promotion activities, but these are mostly in cooperation with USAID.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID offers technical assistance, loans, and grants on concessional terms to less developed countries to further development plans in eligible recipient countries. A variety of USAID programs help U.S. firms take advantage of international environmental market opportunities. The United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP) is an interagency program led by USAID. US-AEP was established in 1992 to assist in addressing environmental degradation and sustainable development issues in Asia and the Pacific by mobilizing U.S. environmental experience, technology, and services. US-AEP's technology transfer activities are designed to fulfill some of Asia's environmental needs in a way that is mutually beneficial to Asian and American partners. Technology transfer services include trade leads, business counseling, market research, grants, exchanges, and product promotion. Department of Commerce (DOC). DOC encourages, serves, and promotes the nation's international trade, economic growth, and technical advancement. DOC assistance in targeting environmental markets includes industry and foreign market information, trade leads, technical information on export licenses and international standards, trade show and mission support, export counseling, and other business advisory services. The International Trade Administrative (ITA), DOC s division charged with foreign commercial operations, provides extensive assistance to help U.S. companies secure environmental market opportunities through U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS) trade specialists. The Environmental Technologies Exports (ETE) office is the principal contact within ITA that can link industry to programs and resources supporting exports of environmental technologies. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA's primary goal is to mitigate the adverse impacts of pollution on human health and the environment. EPA is one of the partner members of the United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP). EPA's goals under the partnership are to (1) promote sound environmental standards, (2) promote pollution prevention and cleaner technology, (3) promote the dissemination of environmental information, (4) build capacity to manage environmental information, and (5) provide assistance in end-of-pipe solutions. EPA also helps U.S. firms take advantage of international environmental market opportunities. Department of Energy (DOE). DOE supports the administration's export promotion efforts to advance the international commercial activities of U.S. energy firms. This effort spans a broad range of commercial, foreign policy, and technical assistance that already has involved thousands of U.S. companies throughout the energy sector. Assistance is provided in the following areas: natural gas, oil, and coal; electric power generation; alternative and renewable energy technologies; conservation, energy efficiency, and environmental technologies. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA offers financial assistance, counseling, export workshops, and training for U.S. exporters. SBA helps firms enter international environmental markets by providing loans and loan guarantees for equipment, facilities, materials, working capital, and business development support for selected export market development activities. International trade officers located in districts throughout the United States can refer small businesses to SBA, state, and federal resources.
Environment-Specific Export Programs
Environmental Technologies Exports (ETE)/ITA/ Department of Commerce. ETE serves as the primary point of contact for environmental technologies export information at the Department of Commerce, in coordination with programs throughout the federal government. In addition to implementing the National Environmental Technologies Export Strategy, the ETE staff provide information on (1) market research and trends, (2) specific overseas market opportunities in the environmental sector, (3) upcoming trade promotion events, and (4) key contacts.
Contacts: Environmental Technologies Exports Trade Specialist for Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand
Sage Chandler
Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., NW, Room 1003
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: (202) 482-1500
Fax: (202) 482-5665
E-mail: sage_chandler@ita.doc.gov
Internet: http://www.ita.doc.gov/envirotech The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS)/ITA/Department of Commerce. The mission of the US&FCS is to support U.S. firms especially small and medium-sized companies in their efforts to increase exports. Located at U.S. embassies; Washington, D.C. headquarters; and district offices throughout the country, US&FCS trade specialists maintain a worldwide service delivery network with offices in 141 cities in the United States and 76 countries overseas. The global capabilities of US&FCS provide seamless service ranging from basic market research to arranging meetings with potential foreign buyers. Contact should be initiated through US&FCS district offices.
Contacts: US&FCS Environmental Trade Programs Managing Director, Paul Lapierre
Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., NW, Room 3128
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: 202-482-3922
Fax: 202-482-3159
E-mail: plapierr@doc.gov US&FCS - Malaysia
Senior Commercial Officer, Mike Hand
Commercial Attaché, Steve Alley
American Embassy
Commercial Section
376 Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 60-3-248-9011
Fax: 60-3-242-1866
For the address and phone number of the nearest U.S. Department of Commerce district office, call 1-800-USA-TRADE(3) (1-800-872-8723);
Internet home page http://www.ita.doc.gov/uscs United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP)/USAID. US-AEP brings together the activities and resources of government, industry, and nongovernmental institutions to offer exporters of U.S. environmental technology access to Asian market resources, including leads on environmental market opportunities, feasibility and prefeasibility project assistance, and access to various grant and exchange programs. Firms can also receive business counseling and training for employees and foreign customers. US-AEP specifically focuses its efforts on the following 10 developing Asia-Pacific markets: Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea (South), Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Contacts: US-AEP Secretariat Washington, DC
Executive Director, Peter Kimm
Deputy Executive Director, Richard Sheppard
1720 Eye Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 853-0033
Fax: (202) 835-0366
Home Page: http://www.usaep.org US-AEP Office of Technology Cooperation - Malaysia
Director, Gordon Young
Deputy, Vivian How
US-AEP Malaysia
c/o American Embassy
376 Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 60-3-248-5316
Fax: 60-3-248-4035
E-mail: usaep@po.jaring.my Environmental Technology Network for Asia (ETNA)/US-AEP/USAID. As one of its services, US-AEP manages the Environmental Technology Network for Asia (ETNA), which is a trade lead database that gathers information from US-AEP technology representatives on environmental technology opportunities in 10 Asian countries. These opportunities are then matched with U.S. environmental product manufacturers, service firms, and trade associations registered with the ETNA database; lead notifications are faxed within 48 hours to allow for quick response. Registration information can be obtained from US-AEP staff. Contact: ETNA: (800) 818-9911; fax (202) 835-8358; Asia region (202) 663-2759; Internet home page http://www.usaep.org/ouractiv/etna.htm Office of International Activities (OIA)/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). OIA serves as EPA's principal point of contact on international environmental matters with other federal agencies and international organizations such as US-AEP or INFOTERRA, the United Nations Environmental Program's environmental information-sharing network. In this capacity, EPA disseminates key information on vendors, implementation of environmental regulations, regional environmental initiatives, and sound governmental technologies through its extensive collection of manuals, directories, clearinghouses, and databases. Foreign companies can contact EPA for directories and databases on U.S. companies offering environmental technologies and services. OIA also oversees the EPA's international travel and visitors programs, which often serve as a springboard for building or strengthening environmental institutions abroad and set the foundation for mutually beneficial future exchanges. In 1996, for example, EPA hosted more than 1,200 visitors from 109 countries.
Contact: Asia Program Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (for visitors and courier service)
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Rm. 31111
Washington, DC 20004
or
USEPA (2670R) (by mail)
401 M St., SW
Washington, DC 20460
Tel: (202) 564-6447
Fax: (202) 565-2411
INFOTERRA/USA
US EPA, 3404
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Tel: 202-260-5917
Fax: 202-260-3923
Internet: library-infoterra@epamail.epa.gov
General Export Counseling Programs
International Trade Administration (ITA)/U.S. Department of Commerce. The International Trade Administration is dedicated to opening markets for U.S. products and providing assistance and information to exporters. ITA units include (1) 100 domestic Export Assistance Centers and 141 overseas commercial offices in the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service network, (2) industry experts and market and economic analysts in its Trade Development unit, and (3) country and regional experts in its Market Access and Compliance offices. Each unit promotes products and offers services and programs for the U.S. exporting community, including export promotion, counseling, and information programs listed elsewhere in this booklet. Contact: 1-800-USA-TRADE(E) (1-800-872-8723);Internet home page http://www.ita.doc.gov. Trade Information Center (TIC)/U.S. Department of Commerce. A key component of the National Export Strategy is the Trade Information Center, a comprehensive clearinghouse for information on federal export assistance programs. TIC trade specialists (1) advise exporters on how to find and use government programs; (2) guide businesses through the export process; (3) direct businesses to market research and trade leads; (4) provide information on overseas and domestic trade events and activities; and (5) supply sources of public and private export financing. TIC has developed the Export Programs Guide, A Business Guide to Federal Export Assistance to provide U.S. companies with information on all sources of U.S. government export assistance. Contact: TIC staff: 1-800-USA-TRADE (1-800-872-8723); fax (202) 482-4473; TDD 1-800-TDD-TRADE (1-800-833-8723); e-mail tic@ita.doc.gov; Internet home page http://www.ita.doc.gov/tic The Export Assistance Network (USEACs/EACs). The U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) have formed a unique partnership to establish U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs). These centers, located at major metropolitan areas throughout the United States, are one-stop shops that provide small and medium-sized businesses with hands-on export marketing and trade finance support. In addition, there are Export Assistance Centers (EACs), which provide small and medium-sized businesses with export promotion assistance and refer them to a nearby SBA district office or to a local Eximbank representative for trade finance assistance. Trade specialists at the USEACs/EACs help U.S. exporters in their locale expand their international activities and other businesses that are new-to-export. USEAC/EAC trade specialists help firms (1) identify the best markets for their products; (2) develop an effective market entry strategy based on information generated from overseas commercial offices; (3) facilitate the implementation of these strategies by advising clients on distribution channels, key factors to consider in pricing, and relevant trade shows and missions; and (4) assist with trade finance programs available through federal, state, and local public sources and the private sector. Contact: For the address and phone number of the USEAC/EAC nearest you, call 1-800-USA-TRADE(3) (1-800-872-8723); Internet home page http://www.ita.doc.gov/uscs Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN)/Small Business Administration (SBA). The Export Legal Assistance Network is a nationwide group of attorneys experienced in international trade that provides free initial consultations to new-to-export business on export-related matters. Contact: The ELAN service is available through SBA district offices, Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) offices, and Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). For the address and phone number of your nearest SBA office, call 1-800-U-ASK-SBA or Judd Kessler, National Coordinator, ELAN, (202) 778-3080; fax (202) 778-3063; e-mail jkessler@porterwright.com; Internet home page http/web/meip.org/elan Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)/Small Business Administration (SBA). The Small Business Development Centers, located throughout the United States, provide a full range of export assistance services to small businesses, particularly new-to-export companies, and offer counseling, trading, and managerial assistance. They provide counseling services at no cost to the small business exporter, but they generally charge fees for export training seminars and other SBDC-sponsored export events. Contact: Jorge F. Cardona, Office of Small Business Development Centers, (202) 205-7303; fax (202) 205-7727. For the location of the SBDC nearest you, please contact the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723); Internet home page http://www.sba.gov/SBDC Minority Business Development Agency/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce. The Minority Business Development agency (MBDA) provides management and technical assistance, as well as access to domestic and international markets. MBDA's mission is to promote the establishment and growth of minority-owned business enterprises in the United States; consequently, it is constantly seeking to create new and innovative ways to engage U.S. minority firms in the international business arena. MBDA helps minority firms gain international access in many ways, including trade missions, matchmaker programs, one-on-one client counseling, seminars, and special international program events. Contact: WBDA International Trade Office: (202) 482-1017; fax (202) 219-8826; Internet home page http/www.mbda.doc.gov
Industry-Specific Export Counseling
Trade Development (TD) Industry Officers/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce. Trade Development's industry and international trade specialists work with individual firms and with manu-facturing and service industry associations to identify trade opportunities and obstacles by product or service, industry sector, and market. Trade Development analysts participate in trade policy development and negotiations, identify market barriers, and provide advocacy (see Advocacy Center below) on behalf of U.S. companies. Trade Development's statistical data and analyses are useful in export development (see Office of Trade and Economic Analysis). TD staff also develop export marketing programs and obtain industry advice on trade matters (see Office of Export Promotion Coordination below). To assist U.S. businesses in their export efforts, TD's industry and international experts conduct executive trade missions, trade fairs, product literature centers, marketing seminars, and business counseling. Experts are organized into six major industry sectors, including environmental technologies. Contact: For a list of TD industry and international trade offices, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E). For TD industry information, see the Internet homepage http://www.ita.doc.gov. For trade statistics, see http://www.ita.doc.gov/tradestats. Office of Export Promotion Coordination (OEPC)/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce. The Office of Export Promotion Coordination serves as Trade Development’s management and information dissemination arm for cross-sectoral programs that deal directly with the private sector. OEPC coordinates Trade Development’s export promotion programs, plans high-profile export promotion trade missions, identifies small business export needs, and provides analyses of the export potential of U.S. products in specific overseas markets. OEPC activities include identifying top targets for trade promotion, developing programs that target women-owned businesses in international trade, and providing information on all U.S. government export assistance programs and services. OEPC also operates the Trade Information Center and the TRADEBASE program, and manages the Industry Consultations Program to seek industry input into trade policy development. Contact: For more information on all OEPC programs and services, call (202) 482-4501 or the Trade Information Center 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723). Infrastructure Division/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce. Infrastructure project managers (1) coordinate government assistance and help U.S. firms compete for major infrastructure and industrial projects overseas; (2) identify upcoming projects and develop specific information about them; (3) monitor worldwide infrastructure development; (4) provide one-on-one business counseling to contractors, engineers, constructors, and engineered systems providers; and (5) offer guidance on appropriate market business contacts, contract bidding procedures, and strategies. Contact: Project managers: (202) 482-4436; fax (202) 482-3954; Internet home page http://www.ita.doc.gov/infrastructure United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (USA-AEP)/Environmental Technology Network for Asia (ETNA). Led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), US-AEP assists in addressing environmental degradation and sustainable development issues in the Asia/Pacific region through the mobilization of U.S. environmental experience, technology, and practice. The program brings together 25 U.S. government departments and agencies and thousands of businesses and nongovernmental organizations that work with 35 nations and territories in Asia and the Pacific. US-AEP activities are focused on promoting an Asian “clean revolution” the extensive continuing development and adoption of less polluting and more resource-efficient products, processes, and services in the Asian region. Contact: USAEP/Environmental Technology Network: 1-800-818-9911 or (202) 663-2759; fax (202) 663-2760; Internet home page http://www.info.usaid.gov/business/ctis/etna.html Export Assistance Initiative/U.S. Department of Energy. Department of Energy export-related activities help U.S. energy sector exporters (1) identify overseas opportunities and discriminatory trade barriers; (2) evaluate U.S. laws and regulations that may restrict trade; (3) identify financing alternatives; and (4) work with other U.S. government agencies in export promotion. Contact: Kay Thompson, Office of Export Assistance: (202) 586-7997; fax (202) 586-0823
Country-Specific Export Counseling
Trade Information Center/ITA/Department of Commerce. The Trade Information Center is available for counseling on Asia, Western Europe, Western Hemisphere, Africa, and the Near East. Through the latest in electronic information distribution systems, individual consultations, and cooperation with private trade groups, the Trade Information Center's trade specialists will provide information and assistance in the following areas: economic and commercial assessments, trade regulations, best prospects for U.S. manufacturers and service providers, trade promotion events, and organizations and other contacts for additional information and assistance. Contact: Trade Information Center staff: (800) 872-8723; fax (202) 482-4473; fax retrieval system 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (800-872-8723); Internet home page http://www.ita.doc.gov/tic. Market Access and Compliance (MAC) Officers/ ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce. Market Access and Compliance (MAC) works to open foreign markets for American goods and services, country by country and region by region, by concentrating on market access issues and developing strategies to overcome obstacles faced by U.S. business. MAC specialists maintain in-depth knowledge of trade policies and practices of our trading partners. Working hand-in-hand with U.S. business, trade associations, Trade Development's industry and technical specialists, and U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Offices, MAC country and regional experts develop information needed to conduct trade negotiations, monitor foreign country compliance with trade agreements, and ensure that U.S. firms know how to use market opening agreements. They also provide information on foreign trade and business practices to U.S. firms.
Contact: For a list of MAC offices, call 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723). Internet home page http://www.itaiep.doc.gov Regional Bureaus/U.S. Department of State. Country desk officers in regional bureaus maintain regular contact with overseas diplomatic missions and provide country-specific economic and political analysis for U.S. companies. There are the bureaus for African, Inter-American, European, Near East, South Asian, and East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Each bureau has a commercial coordinator to assist U.S. businesses. Contact: East Asia: (202) 647-6594 South Asia: (202) 736-4328 Internet home page http://www.state.gov
Special Market Access and Technical Assistance
Advocacy Center/ITA/U.S. Department of Commerce. For a U.S. company bidding for a foreign government procurement contract, exporting can mean more than just selling a good product at a competitive price. It can also mean dealing with foreign governments and complex rules. If you feel the bidding process is not open and transparent or may be tilted in favor of your foreign competition, contact the Advocacy Center. The Advocacy Center coordinates the actions of 20 U.S. government agencies involved in international trade, to level the playing field overseas for U.S. exporters and ensure that sales of U.S. products and services have the best possible chance abroad. Advocacy assistance can include a visit to a key foreign official by a high-ranking U.S. government official, direct support by U.S. officials stationed overseas, letters to foreign decision-makers, and coordinated action by U.S. government agencies to businesses of all types and sizes. Contact: For more information, call (202) 482-3896; fax (202) 482-3508; Internet home page http://www.ita.doc.gov/advocacy National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Technology Administration/U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST provides information about foreign standards, technical regulations, and certification requirements. In addition, NIST maintains a World Trade Organization hotline with the latest notifications of proposed foreign technical regulations that may affect trade. NIST also helps U.S. exporters identify European Union (EU) standards and directives for products to be marketed to the EU. An EU hotline provides information on draft standards of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC). Contact: National Center for Standards and Certification Information: (301) 975-4040; fax (301) 926-1559; WTO/GATT hotline (301) 975-4041; EU hotline (301) 921-4164; Internet http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210-217/217.htm Metric Program/National Institute of Standards and Technology Administration/U.S. Department of Commerce. The Metric Program seeks to accelerate the national transition to the metric system of measurement, the preferred system of weights and measures for U.S. trade and commerce. Implementing the 1988 amendments to the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, the Metric Program coordinates the metric transition activities of all federal agencies. The program provides leadership and assistance on metric use and conversion to businesses, state and local governments, standards organizations, trade associations, and the educational community. Current initiatives focus on education and public awareness to gain broad-based support for national metrication from industry and the general public. Contact: Gerard C. Iannelli, Director, Metric Program: (301) 975-3690; fax (301) 948-1416; e-mail metric_prg@nist.gov; Internet home page http://www.nist.gov/metric. Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs/U.S. Department of State. The bureau formulates and carries out U.S. foreign economic policy in cooperation with other U.S. government agencies in Washington and with U.S. embassies abroad. The bureau is divided into five units along functional lines: communications, energy resources, sanctions, finance and investment, trade, and transportation (aviation and maritime). Contact: Timothy Hauser: (202) 647-5991; Internet home page http://www.state.gov Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). USTR staff can provide information to exporters confronted with foreign barriers to trade and unfair trade practices. Offices are organized according to sectoral responsibilities. Contact: James Murphy, Agricultural Affairs, (202) 395-6127; Don Eiss, Office of Industry (202) 395-5656; Donald Abelson, Investment, Services and Intellectual Property Rights, and Technology; (202) 395-4510; Peter Collins, Services, (202) 395-7271; Rita Hayes, Office of Textiles; (202) 395-3026; Jane Bradley, Monitoring and Enforcement, (202) 395-3582; fax for all offices (202) 395-3911; Internet home page http://www.ustr.gov. Office of the General Counsel/Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. USTR is responsible for administering trade cases that provide relief from unfair trade practices under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Individual exporters should contact USTR concerning procedures for filing a complaint. Contact: Irving Williamson, Deputy General Counsel: (202) 395-3432; fax (202) 395-3639 ATA Carnet/U.S. Customs Service/U.S. Department of the Treasury. The ATA Carnet is a special international customs document that may be used for temporary imports/exports, particularly professional equipment and commercial samples that are out of the country for less than one year. The carnet is issued in lieu of the usual customs documents and eliminates value-added taxes, duties, and temporary import bonds. Forty-seven participating countries accept the carnet as a guarantee against the payment of customs duties that may become due on goods temporarily imported under a carnet and not reexported. Contact: Jerrald Worley, Office of International Policy: (202) 927-0440; fax (202) 927-6892; Internet home page www.imex.com/uscib/frame5.htm
Export Licenses and Controls
Bureau of Export Administration (BXA)/U.S. Department of Commerce. BXA provides export assistance on export licensing requirements through its Exporter Counseling Division (ECD). ECD interprets the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and provides assistance such as detailed and up-to-date status information on pending license applications; advice on a broad range of export issues, licensing requirements, required documentation for export transactions, and special policy concerns for specific countries; assistance in selecting the appropriate license; and answers to inquiries regarding the BXA policy issues and processing time frames.
ECD counselors can be intermediaries and can arrange meetings between exporters and BXA licensing officials. ECD also authorizes emergency processing on export applications. Cases that meet specific criteria are expedited through the licensing system. These cases are often approved within a few days of receipt of the application. Throughout the year, BXA provides introductory and advanced seminars across the United States. Contact: Export Counseling Division, Room 1099C, Washington, D.C. 20230, (202) 482-4811; Export Seminar Staff, Room 1099C, Washington, D.C. 20230, (202) 482-6031; BXA Western Regional Office, 3300 Irvin Ave., Suite 345, Newport Beach, CA 92660, (714) 660-0144; Internet home page http//www.bxa.doc.gov
