International Trade and Investment Resources

Below is a list of local, state, and federal government agencies and organizations available to support Snohomish County businesses and communities, or provide information resources, on international trade and investment.

State-level Resources

 Regional Resources

  • Economic Alliance Snohomish County
  • Port of Everett
  • Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle: Snohomish County is a partner of the Trade Development Alliance (TDA), a regional partnership promoting the greater Seattle region internationally for business and trade. TDA organizes business missions to overseas markets; coordinates inbound FDI attraction efforts and assists inbound business delegations visiting the region, and organizing educational programming on international business.
  • Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT): WCIT advocates for strong, pro-trade policies and investments that benefit Washington’s small, medium and large employers and that create jobs for Washington residents.
  • Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC): WSCRC is a private, non-profit business association dedicated to promoting stronger commercial, educational, and cultural relations between Washington and the People's Republic of China. 

Federal Resources

  • U.S. Foreign Commercial Service – International Offices: FCS offices overseas publish comprehensive country commercial guides and market reports, and list services they can provide U.S. exporters.
  • International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce: ITA’s website offers a comprehensive set of resources for exporters and importers, including events, sector and country-specific data, information on compliance and enforcement, and other resources.
  • FTA Tariff Tool: This resource from the U.S. Commerce Department and SBA enables users to look up tariffs on individual products in the U.S. government and its FTA partners under existing agreements.
  • Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR): USTR is responsible for negotiating international trade agreements and resolving trade disputes. You can contact USTR for information on existing trade agreements and ongoing trade negotiations, as well as to report trade barriers your company has encountered in overseas markets. USTR’s website includes information on U.S. trade laws.
  • U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service(USDA): The FAS supports U.S. farmers and agriculture in overseas markets, including through identifying trade barriers and enforcing U.S. rights, supporting market development for U.S. exporters, providing data and analysis, and partnering with developing countries to enhance their food security.
  • U.S. Department of State: The State Department’s website offers information on doing business overseas, assisting foreign companies doing business in the United States, and other international business topics.
  • U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP): CBP’s website includes information on import and export requirements—including tips for new importers and exporters, cargo screening, and related topics.
  • U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: APHIS governs importing and exporting animals and plants to and from the United States.
  • U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC): The USITC is an independent, quasi-judicial U.S. federal agency with broad investigative responsibilities on matters of trade. It administers U.S. trade remedy laws; provides the President, USTR, and Congress with independent analysis, information, and support on matters of tariffs, international trade, and U.S. competitiveness; and maintain the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).

 Other Resources

  • Asia Matters for America (East-West Center): An interactive resource providing credible and nonpartisan information, graphics, analysis and news on U.S.-Asia Pacific relations at the national, state and local levels
  • Export Nation 2013 (Brookings Institute): Interactive resource with export indicators for major U.S. metropolitan areas.
  • National Bureau of Asian Research: NBR, a Seattle-based research institution established in 1989 with a grant from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, conducts advanced independent research on strategic, political, economic, globalization, health, and energy issues affecting U.S. relations with Asia.
  • National Center for APEC: The National Center for APEC, located in Seattle, works to stimulate and facilitate U.S. private sector engagement in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and process, which bring together 22 economies across the Asia-Pacific region.