Trade Finance Resources
Getting paid is probably the most important aspect of selling internationally. There are a number of ways to reduce the risk of non-payment from your foreign buyer. The Commercial Service offers online and live training courses on export financing assistance found through our Export.gov web site.
You can also access this free Trade Finance Guide to begin learning on your own.
Resources on this page:
- Export-Import Bank of the United States
- Small Business Administration
- US Department of Agriculture
- Western USA Trade Association
- California Sales Tax on Exported Products
Ex-Im Bank
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank's mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets.
Ex-Im Bank enables U.S. companies — large and small — to turn export opportunities into real sales that help to maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national economy. Some of Ex-Im Bank’s programs include:
- Working capital guarantees which allow exporters to obtain working capital loans from commercial lenders.
- Export credit insurance helps US exporters limit their risk and offer credit terms to international buyers.
- Loan guarantees enables international buyers to obtain loans for purchase of U.S. goods and services.
The Sacramento Export Assistance Center works closely with our local Ex-Im Bank representative. The Sacramento area is serviced by Mr. Jim Lucchesi in Ex-Im Bank’s office in San Francisco. His contact information is:
Jim Lucchesi
Senior Business Development Officer
San Francisco Branch Office
50 Fremont Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 705-2285
(415) 705-1156 FAX
Email: Jim.Lucchesi@exim.gov
Website: http://www.exim.gov
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration also has a number of loan programs to help U.S. exporters. They include:
- Export Express Loan Program, a fast and easy loan for small exporters.
- Export Working Capital Program provides lenders with a guaranty on export loans as a credit enhancement.
- International Trade Loan Program offers term loans to businesses that plan to start or continue exporting, or that have been adversely affected by competition from imports.
- SBA and Ex-Im Bank Co-Guarantee Program provides small business exporters the ability to obtain larger export working capital loans through the Export Working Capital Program than SBA can support alone
The Sacramento Export Assistance Center works closely with our local SBA representative. The Sacramento area is serviced by Mr. Jerry Avila, located in Citrus Heights. His contact information is:
Jerry R. Avila
Regional Manager, Export Solutions Group
Office of International Trade
U.S. Small Business Administration
6501 Sylvan Road
Citrus Heights, California 95610
Tel : 916-735-1708
Fax: 202-741-6851
Email: jerry.avila@sba.gov
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
Export Credit Guarantee Programs
The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers export credit guarantee programs for commercial financing of U.S. agricultural exports. The programs encourage exports to buyers in countries where credit is necessary to maintain or increase U.S. sales, but where financing may not be available without CCC guarantees. Under all CCC programs:
- Exporters must apply to be qualified to participate in CCC programs
- Exporters must use qualified U.S. and foreign banks
- Exporters must have a firm export sale before submitting an application
- The product must meet the definition of a U.S. agricultural commodity
- The guarantee fee paid at the time of application is non-refundable
Two programs underwrite credit extended by the private banking sector in the United States to approved foreign banks using dollar-denominated, irrevocable letters of credit to pay for food and agricultural products sold to foreign buyers. The Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) covers credit terms up to three years. The Intermediate Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-103) covers longer credit terms up to 10 years. These programs are designed to expand and maintain foreign markets for U.S. agricultural commodities, and can help developing nations make the transition from concessional financing to cash purchases. The Supplier Credit Guarantee Program (SCGP) guarantees payments on promissory notes from importers for a percentage of the face value up to 180 days. The Facility Guarantee Program (FGP) provides payment guarantees to facilitate the financing of U.S. goods and services exported to improve or establish agriculture-related facilities in emerging markets. Under these programs, which are administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the CCC does not provide financing, but guarantees payments due from foreign banks. Typically, 98 percent of principal and a portion of interest at an adjustable rate are covered. Because payment is guaranteed, financial institutions in the United States can offer competitive credit terms to the foreign banks, usually with interest rates based on the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Any follow-on credit arrangements between the foreign bank and the importer are negotiated separately and are not covered by the CCC guarantee.
USDA Contact Information
Deputy Administrator, Export Credits; FAS, USDA
Stop 1031, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-1031
(202) 720-6301 Phone
(202) 690-0727 Fax
Email: askec@fas.usda.gov
Website: http://www.fas.usda.gov
WUSATA - Western USA Trade Association
WUSATA's integrated marketing services are designed to help exporters of Western U.S. agricultural products to develop and expand their international markets. By utilizing a combination of WUSATA services companies can achieve maximum marketing impact.
WUSATA Local Contact Information
Shelly Caldwell, Outreach Coordinator
4601 North East 77th Ave, Suite 120
Vancouver, WA 98662
(360) 693-3373 Phone
(360) 693-3464 Fax
Email: shelly@wusata.org
Website: http://www.wusata.org
California Sales Tax on Exported Products
Sales tax generally does not apply to your transaction when you sell a product and ship it directly to the purchaser at an out-of-state location, for use outside California. Your sale is not taxable if you:
- Ship the product directly to the purchaser, using your own delivery vehicle or another means of transport that you own; or
- Ship the product by delivering it to a common carrier (including the U.S. Postal Service), contract carrier, customs broker, export packer, or forwarding agent (see Note, below); or,
- Sell items that will be used in other countries, deliver the product in a way that meets the special delivery conditions explained below; or
- Sell new, noncommercial vehicles to foreign residents, deliver the vehicle in a way that meets specific conditions explained in Regulation 1620, Interstate and Foreign Commerce
From the Board of Equalization: http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/pub101/index.html
Aaron Bone
Board of Equalization
Outreach Services Manager
916-322-9195
