Contacts

A. Country Contacts

Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
Bundesministerium fuer Wirtschaft & Technologie
http://www.bmwi.bund.de

Federal Bureau for Foreign Trade Information
http://www.bfai.de/

Federal Ministry of Finance
Bundesministerium der Finanzen
http://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/

B. Country Trade Associations/Chambers of Commerce

Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. (BDI)
(Federation of German Industries)
http://www.bdi-online.de/

Deutscher Industrie und Handelskammertag (DIHK)
(Federation of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce)
http://www.diht.de/

Bundesverband des Deutschen Gross- und Aussenhandels e.V. (BGA)
(Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade)
http://www.bga.de/

Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Eletronikindustrie e.V. (ZVEI)
(German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association)
http://www.zvei.de/

Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V. (VDMA)
(German Association of Machinery and Plant Manufacturers)
http://www.vdma.org

Centralvereinigung Deutscher Handelsvertreter- und Handelsmakler-Verbaende (CDH)
(General Association of Commercial Agents and Brokers)
http://www.cdh.de/

C. Country Market Research Firms

It would exceed the scope of this guide to list even only the major market research or consultant companies. Most of these firms belong to one or both of the following associations and can be contacted through these:

Bundesverband Deutscher Unternehmensberater e.V. (BDU)
(Federal Association of German Consultants)
http://www.bdu.de/

Arbeitskreis Deutscher Markt- und Sozialforschungsinstitute e.V. (ADM)
(Federation of German Market and Social Research Institutes)
http://adm-ev.de/

D. Country Commercial Banks

There are numerous domestic and foreign banks represented in Germany; among the largest German institutions are:

Deutsche Bank AG http://www.deutsche-bank.de/

Dresdner Bank AG http://www.dresdner-bank.com/

Commerzbank AG http://www.commerzbank.com/

E. U.S. Embassy Trade Personnel

United States Embassy, Berlin http://www.usembassy.de/
Commercial Service http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/berlin.html

U.S. Consulates

Dusseldorf http://duesseldorf.usconsulate.gov/
Commercial Service http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/duesseldorf.html

Frankfurt/Main http://frankfurt.usconsulate.gov/
Commercial Service http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/frankfurt.html

Hamburg http://hamburg.usconsulate.gov

Leipzig http://leipzig.usconsulate.gov

Munich http://munich.usconsulate.gov/
Commercial Service http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/munich.html

F. Washington-based USG Country Contacts

U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
http://www.trade.gov

U.S. Department of State,
http://www.state.gov/

USDA - Foreign Agricultural Service, Agricultural Export Services Division. The website has trade and production statistics, exporter assistance information, marketing information, trade policy news and links to the attaché reports
http://www.fas.usda.gov/

U.S. Department of the Treasury
http://www.ustreas.gov/

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Office of Europe and the Mediterranean
http://www.ustr.gov/

http://www.useu.be/agri/ - the office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the European Union has a very comprehensive website on EU food laws, import requirements, and duties and quotas.

G. U.S.-based Multipliers

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
http://www.germany-info.org/

CMA - German Agricultural Marketing Board
North American Office
http://www.cmanorthamerica.org/

German American Chamber of Commerce Inc. (Headquarters)
http://www.gaccny.com/

German Representative for Industry and Trade
http://www.rgit-usa.com/

Other Contacts

http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/contact.html - U.S. Commercial Service Germany’s trade specialists can help you identify trade opportunities, find local trading partners, launch your company, and obtain market research reports.

http://www.export.gov/ - U.S. Government Export Portal

http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/ - As EU member states harmonize their regulations and increase their economic integration, a direct connection to the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Mission to the European Union can be the key to success in the European marketplace.

http://www.agbc.de/ - American-German Business Club

http://www.agbc-berlin.de - American German Business Club Berlin

http://www.amcham.de/ - American Chamber of Commerce in Germany

http://www.useu.be/agri/ - the office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the European Union has a very comprehensive website on EU food laws, import requirements, and duties and quotas.

http://www.fas.usda.gov - The Foreign Agricultural Service website has trade and production statistics, exporter assistance information, marketing information, trade policy news and links to the attaché reports.

Agricultural Affairs Office
American Embassy / Berlin
Clayallee 170
12195 Berlin, Germany
Tel: (49)(30) 8305-1150
Fax:(49)(30) 8431-1935
Email: Agberlin@N0SPAM.usda.gov
Internet: http://www.usembassy.de/germany/fas/index.html

http://www.useu.be/agri/ - the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the European Union has a very comprehensive website on EU food laws, import requirements, and duties and quotas.

http://www.tradestatsexpress.gov - provides statistical data on trade between the United States and Germany

http://www.bundesbank.de - provides information and key indicators on Germany’s economy

Market Research

To view market research reports produced by the U.S. Commercial Service please go to the following website: http://www.export.gov/mrktresearch/ and click on Country and Industry Market Reports. Please note that these reports are only available to U.S. citizens and U.S. companies. Registration to the site is required, but free of charge.

http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/marketresearch.html - Comprehensive and up-to-date information about the German market and the export potential for U.S. products and services

http://www.buyusa.gov/europe/ - The Showcase Europe website of the U.S. Commercial Service provides trade opportunities, new business partners, market research and one-on-one assistance.

http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/tender_search.html - Public Procurement Opportunities in Europe

Agricultural Reports

Attaché Reports

Attaché reports provide information on market opportunities, crop conditions, new policy developments and information on the German food industry. Some standard reports include: Retail Market Report, Exporter Guide, Food Service Report, and market briefs on wine, seafood, and other select products. Attaché reports can be found at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/default.asp. In recent years, many of the German reports have been consolidated and are submitted as EU reports. We recommend that companies interested in the German market also review the EU reports.

American Food Directory

The Agricultural Affairs Office has produced a food directory entitled "American Foods in Europe (AFE) 2004 Directory of European Importers of U.S. Food and Beverage Products". The AFE directory contains listings of about 200 European companies, from 16 European countries within the EU-25, handling about 500 branded and a wide assortment of generic U.S. food and beverage products available in Europe. The directory is a useful resource for retailers, hotels, caterers, restaurants and others seeking to purchase U.S. food or beverage products but who do not wish to import directly. In addition to a hardcopy, an Internet version of the 2004 Directory is available at http://www.american-foods.org.

For further information please review the FAS Homepage and the FAS Processed Products Division. The FAS homepage may be visited on line at: http://www.fas.usda.gov.

Trade Events

Please click on the link below for information on upcoming trade events:

http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/events.html

Directory of important trade fairs in Germany and the U.S.
http://www.export.gov/tradeevents.html Worldwide trade events

Agricultural Trade Shows in Germany

For some of the major trade shows being held in Germany that are dedicated to the food and agricultural sector and products, please see: http://www.usembassy.de/germany/fas_tradeshows.html

Note: The promotional events listed are provided for informational purposes only. No endorsement should be implied unless specifically stated.