The U.S. Export Assistance Center is part of a vast network of domestic and international offices, staffed by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

We assist Maryland firms in exporting by providing expert counseling and advice, information on markets abroad, international contacts and advocacy services.

We combine these resources of the Commercial Service with the finance expertise of the Small Business Administration, and can provide information on all Federal programs designed to support international trade.

Featured Events                                                              

**Save the Date!**   **Save the Date!**   **Save the Date!**   **Save the Date!**

September 18 is our 5th Annual Open House. Please join us for networking and a baseball game!  To register.  See July's newsletter for more info, here. ________________________________________________________________________________

SBA Exporting 101 Workshop - Sept. 8, 2009 from 8:00am to 12:30pm.  Targeting existing small businesses that either want to export or are currently exportin.   For more information see the flyer.  ________________________________________________________________________________

Export Tech Program - designed to help established companies enter or expand into global markets.  To learn more and apply please click here. ________________________________________________________________________________

Important News Flash!                                                           

Effective July 2, 2008, the Census Bureau is requiring mandatory filing of export information through the Automated Export System (AES), or through the AESDirect for all shipments where a Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) is required. These new regulations have tougher penalty provisions that affect everyone in the export process. Penalties may be imposed per violation of the FTR from $1,100 to $10,000 both civil and criminal, for the delayed filing, failure to file, false filing of export information, and/or using the AES to further any illegal activity.  Also, all AES filers are faced with new filing deadlines by mode of transportation for reporting export information.

For further information, please:

• WATCH the Census Bureau’s explanatory video at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/;
• DOWNLOAD the Census Bureau’s PowerPoint presentation on these new regulations by clicking Foreign Trade Regulations Mandatory AES (126KB);
• VISIT the Census Bureau’s special web page on these new regulations at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/mandatory/ ; and
• REGISTER for AESDirect at http://www.aesdirect.gov/ .