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DOING BUSINESS WITH THE USA
YOUR USBRAZIL TRADE ASSIST
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The top 10 consumer imported goods for the year 2009, representing 80 percent of total consumer imports,
include the following items:
  1. Pharmaceutical preparations (19%)                          6. Apparel, textiles, non-wool or cotton (6%)
  2. Other household goods (14%)                                  7. Furniture, household goods, etc. (5%)
  3. Apparel, household goods - cotton (10%)                 8. Household Appliances (4%)
  4. TVs, VCRs, etc. (9%)                                                9. Footwear (3%)
  5. Toys, games and sporting goods (7%)                   10. Gems, diamonds (3%)
US IMPORTS OF GOODS BY END-USE CATEGORY AND COMMODITY

For the year 2009, as shown in the diagram below, the largest percent of imported goods by principal end-use
category were industrial supplies and materials (30 percent), followed by consumer goods (27 percent) and
capital goods, excluding automotive (24 percent).
Source: US Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics, December 2009
Source: US Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics, December 2009
The top 10 consumer exported goods for the year 2009, representing 81 percent of total consumer exports,
include the following items:
  1. Pharmaceutical preparations (31%)                          6. Artwork, antiques, stamps, etc. (4%)
  2. Other household goods (11%)                                  7. Jewelry, etc. (4%)
  3. Gems, diamonds (7%)                                               8. Writing and art supplies (4%)
  4. Toys, games, and sporting goods (7%)                     9. Household appliances (4%)
  5. Toiletries and cosmetics (6%)                                  10. Books, printed matter (3%)


ENTERING THE US MARKET

Depending on the level of investment your company is prepared to make, there are a number of ways to enter
the US market.
  1. Direct Investment: subsidiary, branch office, representative office or joint venture.
  2. Indirect Investment: distributor, agency, marketing representative or licensing/franchising.
  3. No Investment: direct export or transmission of information from your country of origin.

To learn more, check out the following very useful websites for regulations about starting and operating a
business in the USA.
  • Business.gov, the official business link to the U.S. government, Includes guides to such topics as advertising
    and marketing, business law, employment and labor laws, finance, franchises and opportunities, government
    contracting, import/export, licenses and permits, taxes, and workplace safety and health.
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury provides tax information for
    businesses.
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) regulates patents, trademarks, and copyrights.


MAKING CONTACT WITH US IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS

There are many outlets in the US market for distributing your products. These include the following:
  1. Importers and distributors.
  2. Retailers: direct sales and upscale stores.
  3. Mass markets: chain and department stores, specialty, discount, warehouse, kiosk, and online stores.

A database list of USA importers and buying agents can be obtained from the American Importers Association
(AIA). These importers are looking for products for resale – retailers, wholesalers, and distributors – or for use in
their manufacturing production. You can learn more about this database list at on the AIA website.

A list of the top 5000 US importers in 2008 is available on the website of the US Customs and Border Protection
(CBP). However, no information is provided on the products they imported.

If you are looking to source products or services from the USA, check out the Export Yellow Pages, the official
directory of the US Department of Commerce of US exporters and export service providers.

Whether you are an importer or exporter, the best means of finding reliable suppliers or buyers and getting to
know your competitors is by attending or participating in a trade fair. Trade events in the USA are available here.
Their guidelines for locating foreign representatives and buyers and negotiating an agreement with a foreign
representative are applicable to both buyers and suppliers.

Do not forget that the commercial office of your country’s embassy or consulate in the USA is also a valuable
source of information when seeking US buyers or suppliers. Links to foreign embassies in the USA are available
on the website of the US Department of State.


US IMPORT REGULATIONS

US imports are regulated by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland
Security. It facilitates trade by ensuring that goods arriving in the USA are legitimate and that appropriate duties
and fees are paid.

Information available on their website include the following:

To obtain information of customs rulings regarding specific products, you can use the searchable database of the
CBP, known as the Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS).

For general customs information about importing into the USA, check out the USA Import Help prepared by the
Certified Customs Specialist of Freightgator Logistics Customs Brokerage.


VISITING THE UNITED STATES FOR BUSINESS

Learn more about obtaining a US Visitors Visa when you are ready to make your first trip to the USA to
participate in a trade event, meet your potential US partners, negotiate a business contract or other business.

US EXPORTS OF GOODS BY END-USE CATEGORY AND COMMODITY

For the year 2009, as shown in the chart below, industrial supplies and materials together with capital goods
(except automotive) make up a total of 65 percent of US exports by principal end-use category. Consumer goods
fall in third place with 14 percent.