Resources – Useful Links

Bureau of Industry and Security
http://www.bis.doc.gov
The Bureau of Industry & Security is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  This government agency administers the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) which governs all exports from the United States, including export licensing, freight forwarder responsibilities and U.S. exporter responsibilities.

Office of Foreign Asset Controls
http://www.treasury.gov/about/organizational-structure/offices/Pages/Office-of-Foreign-Assets-Control.aspx

The Office of Foreign Asset Controls is part of the U.S. Department of Treasury.  This government agency administers and enforces economic trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers and other threats.

The Foreign Trade Division of the Bureau of Census
http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade
The Foreign Trade Division of the Bureau of Census is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This government agency collects trade data on U.S. exports and imports.  Freight forwarders and U.S. exporters are required to follow these regulations.

Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) safeguards the sale, export and re-transfers of defense articles and defense services in accordance with the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
https://cbp.gov
The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws and regulations.  This government agency also enforces the Foreign Trade Regulations on behalf of the Bureau of Census.

Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism
http://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/cargo-security/c-tpat-customs-trade-partnership-against-terrorism
The Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program seeks to safeguard the international trade industry from terrorists and maintaining the economic health of the U.S. and its neighbors.

Export.gov
http://export.gov/
Export.gov brings together resources from across the U.S. Government to assist American businesses in planning their international sales strategies and succeed in today’s global marketplace.

USDA/Importing
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=IMPORTING_GOODS
While foreign regulatory systems need not be identical to the U.S. system, they must employ equivalent sanitary and health measures that provide the same level of protection achieved domestically for imported goods.

USDA/Exporting
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=EXPORTING_GOODS&navtype=RT&parentnav=marketing-trade
USDA monitors the export of products from the U.S. through a standard set of regulations and policies.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services have responsibility for protecting endangered species. USFWS has additional responsibilities for issuing CITES Certificates and approving imports for certain types of commodities.