Commerce Dept. streamlines export service fees

-- Home Textiles Today, 4/4/2008 2:29:00 PM

Washington – The U.S. Commercial Service (CS) division of the Commerce Department will implement a new user fee schedule on May 1 in order to ease the ability of U.S. companies – particularly small and medium-sized firms – to leverage the Commercial Service’s global network of trade experts to increase sales in markets around the world.

“Under our new fee structure, our customers will now pay the same fees worldwide for a CS standard service, no matter where they do business,” said Israel Hernandez, assistant secretary for trade promotion of the CS.

In addition to establishing a single worldwide fee for each standardized CS service (for instance, the Gold Key Matchmaking Service will now be $700 for SMEs across all markets worldwide), the new schedule maintains low fees for small and medium-sized companies.

Further, the new user fee schedule provides an incentive for qualifying new-to-export companies to try CS services for the first time: up to a 50% discount for the CS Gold Key Service, International Company Profile, International Partner Search, or Featured U.S. Exporter service.

For the new user fee schedule, visit www.export.gov and follow the “spotlight” link.