Navigate Shipping and Logistics

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Documents and Shipping

Overview

Ship your product to arrive safely and on time, and avoid the potential of having your product stuck in customs or returned. We can help you determine the best shipping options and how to complete the required documents.  

 

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Product Preparation

Some products and packaging must be altered for export.

Is Your Product Ready?
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Shipping Basics

Choosing the right transportation mode is key.

Consider Your Options
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Shipping Documentation

Proper documentation, including AES Direct filing, is critical.

Learn About Requirements
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Incoterms®

Definitions of responsibility between buyers and sellers.

Choose Incoterms®

Documents and Shipping Resources and Tools

Check these tools to determine and optimize your product’s tariff treatment.
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Related Tariff Issues
Special considerations to reduce your shipping cost.
Learn about special considerations
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Customs Information
Use the Customs Info Tariff Tool to find your product’s tariff rate.
Find Your Tariff Rate
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Export Trading Companies
An Export Trade Certificate of Review (ETCR) allows you to work with other companies to reduce shipping costs, boost negotiating power, and develop long-term export business.
Apply for an ECTR
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U.S. Commercial Service Support
The U.S. Commercial Service offers support for resolving shipment issues with foreign customs entities.
Find an Office Near You

Continue Your Export Journey

 

Recommended next steps.

Exporter Resources.
Exporter Resources

Tools and resources for exporters.

Get ready to export.
Get Ready to Export

Our three-phased approach to start exporting.

US Commercial Service
U.S. Commercial Service

Learn about our global network of export experts.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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