Doing business in the United States

Export Development Canada (EDC) provides a wide range of knowledge support for Canadian companies doing business abroad:

• The Country Information page offers free economic and political research for many international markets, especially the United States.
  
• EDC’s Market Entry Advisors can connect you to experts who can help you navigate the U.S. business environment, obtain up-to-date market intelligence on the United States and start building networks in your U.S. market of interest.
  
• EDC’s web site also provides a wide selection of guides, articles and other trade-related material, including government programs and trade solutions. You can sign up for EDC’s newsletters, or go to TradeInsights if you’re looking for specific resources about the United States. Many publications are regularly updated, including the Global Export Forecast and the Country Risk Quarterly.
  
• You can meet potential U.S. customers through EDC’s Connections Program. The program can help you connect with U.S. supply chain opportunities and expand your network into new U.S. markets.
  

EDC also offers a comprehensive range of financial, risk management and working capital tools that can help you operate successfully in the United States. Visit Our Solutions at EDC to find out more.

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) has teams throughout the United States, as well as offices across Canada. It provides a range of services free of charge to companies that show a capacity for internationalization. If your company can demonstrate a firm commitment to the U.S. market, the TCS can provide extensive support for your international business. Trade Commissioners can help you:

• Determine if you can be competitive in the United States, decide on a target market and collect market and industry information
  
• Determine the level of opportunity that exists in a particular U.S. regional market, together with suitable approaches to the market
  
• Learn about barriers and regulations associated with entering the U.S. market
  
• Learn about issues such as market access, customs, logistics and contracts
  
• Gain insight into the competitive landscape of a U.S. regional market and its emerging opportunities and trends
  
• Gain access to local governments and key business leaders
  
• Meet with potential U.S. customers, distributors, sources of finance or investment, technology partners and intermediaries
  

Your regional TCS office in Canada should be among your first stops when starting your U.S. market research. Later, at the appropriate stage of your export preparation, the Canadian office can refer you to the TCS office in your target region.

There are many sources of information about the United States and its business environment. The following list will give you a good start.

• The Sell2USGov web site, operated by the TCS, provides comprehensive information about doing business with the U.S. Federal Government.
  
• SelectUSA is a U.S. government-wide program led by the U.S. Department of Commerce. It helps foreign business investors and companies find the information they need to make decisions, connect to the right people at the local level and navigate the federal regulatory system.
  
• The U.S. Cluster Mapping tool provides extremely fine-grained data about U.S. industry clusters and regional business environments. Registered users can create custom regions to look at the economic, social and business conditions of states, groups of counties and individual counties. Registration is free.
  
• The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis is part of the U.S. Bureau of Commerce and provides statistics and analyses of U.S. economic performance.
  
• The U.S. Census Bureau provides coverage of the statistical data collected in the U.S. Census, including detailed demographic data.
  
• The U.S. International Trade Administration has a data and analysis section devoted to U.S. industries and their related statistics.