{"id":1466,"date":"2016-10-31T15:29:51","date_gmt":"2016-10-31T15:29:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/griit.org\/?p=1466"},"modified":"2024-01-30T09:22:02","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T09:22:02","slug":"international-trade-does-not-have-to-be-scary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/griit.org\/international-trade-does-not-have-to-be-scary\/","title":{"rendered":"International Trade Does Not Have to Be Scary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite the fact that the United States has signed and implemented free trade agreements with 20 countries around the world, less than one percent of all 30 million U.S. businesses take advantage of these trade deals. Some business owners have expressed to me that they just were unaware of the opportunities presented by free trade agreements or exporting just seemed too complicated to understand. However, free trade agreements do not have to be so daunting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trade agreements create special access into the markets that are a part of those agreements that otherwise would not be available. By not exporting, your business is missing out on opportunities to grow its profits.<\/span><\/p>\n

I will share with you the opportunities that are available so that you can export with ease to the global market and show how exporting to the global market can increase your profits.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Opportunities to Spread Your Business<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The United States currently has free trade agreements with countries all around the world. As a part of these agreements, member countries are able to export goods at a much lower or no tariffs. Additionally, goods can be exported from country to another at a higher quota, which refers to the quantitative restriction on the amount of good that can enter a country. Free trade agreements also consist of provisions to encourage all countries to uphold certain labor and environmental standards. Countries also agree to remove non-tariff barriers such as regulations and standards that may serve a more discriminatory purpose. In cases where a country violates the terms of that free trade deal, a dispute settlement process is included to ensure fairness.<\/span><\/p>\n

I emphasize countries that we have signed free trade agreements with, because other countries are more difficult to enter due to protectionist policies. During a Los Angeles-based event, a consultant expressed the difficulties with entering Brazil\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s market. He merely echoed the complaints of a number of investors that have been highlighted in numerous studies over the years. While Brazil\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s economy has grown tremendously, it presents a challenge for others seeking to export to that market. For this reason, exporting begins with identifying the market where the barriers to entry are far lower, as in the case of the countries that agreed to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those 20 countries and their respective 14 free trade agreements (FTAs)\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0with the United States\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n