What's NEXT for the National Export Initiative? Try NEI/NEXT.

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U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced NEI/NEXT – a data-based, customer service-driven initiative to ensure that more American businesses can fully capitalize on markets that are opening up around the world.  NEI/NEXT will build on Administration-wide achievements under the National Export Initiative (NEI) through five core objectives, to help all businesses reach the 95 percent of consumers who live outside the United States.  Here are the objectives:

1.  Connecting more U.S. businesses to their NEXT global customer with tailored industry-specific information and assistance.

2.  Making the NEXT international shipment easier and less expensive, through efforts to streamline U.S. government export-related services, reporting requirements and processes, and speeding American goods to more markets through domestic infrastructure improvements.

3.  Expanding access to finance for U.S. businesses’ NEXT export transaction, helping more exporters obtain financing to meet international demand, and ensuring more companies know what products and services are available to reduce risk and export to new markets with confidence.

4.  Promoting exports and foreign direct investment attraction as the NEXT economic development priority in communities and regions across the country by enhancing partnerships with local and state leaders and by coordinating with SelectUSA, the U.S. government-wide program housed within the Department of Commerce to facilitate foreign direct investment.

5.  Creating, fostering and ensuring U.S. business’ NEXT global opportunity by helping developed and developing economies improve their business environments, by opening new markets, and by establishing conditions and addressing barriers to allow more American exporters to compete and win abroad.

Read more:  U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Announces Next Phase of the National Export Initiative

For more on NEI/Next, including state by state success stories, visit:  http://www.trade.gov/neinext/

Full report, "National Export Initiative, Next, Strategic Framework," visit:  http://www.trade.gov/neinext/neinext-strategic-framework.pdf

Related posts here.  Need help exporting?  Get started here.

U.S. International Trade Data May 2011

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According to the ITA Blog Tradeology, exports decreased by 0.5 percent in May, total exports are still up 16.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Thank goodness.  Otherwise, the NEI would fall flat on its face.

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services:

“While exports dipped slightly in May, exports have been growing at a strong pace overall in the first five months of 2011, up 16.4percent compared to the same period last year. We’re making progress but we still have a way to go. Accelerating job growth remains a priority for this administration and we will continue to provide our businesses with the necessary tools to compete and win globally and create more American jobs. As we move closer to reaching the president’s goal of doubling exports by 2015, the Obama administration will continue to help businesses reach the 95 percent of consumers who live outside our borders,” Locke said.

Export fact sheet here.  Illustration credit:  U.S. Foreign Trade Data (U.S. Census)

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

How is the National Export Initiative Working For You?

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That's the question I have for small businesses after I read this article:

Small Businesses Barely Keeping Afloat

As always, the comments baffle me.  But I am serious about my question:  Is the NEI working for small businesses?

Is it the best of times for BIG businesses and worst of times for small?  We welcome hearing from you!

The New National Export Initiative Web Page

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The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched a new web page dedicated to USTR's work on the President's National Export Initiative (NEI).

As President Obama announced in his State of the Union address, agencies across the federal government are teaming up under the National Export Initiative to create jobs by expanding exports. This page will serve as a one-stop shop for updates on USTR's NEI work and connections to the entire NEI effort across the Obama Administration.

Visit here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog