          
          
          
               WHERE TO GET MARKET INFORMATION AND TRADE LEADS
          
          
          U.S. Department of Commerce/The Economic Bulletin Board 
          (EBB):  The EBB, a personal computer-based electronic 
          bulletin board, is your on-line source for trade leads as 
          well as for the latest statistical releases from the Bureau 
          of the Census, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Bureau 
          of Labor Statistics, the Federal Reserve Board, and other 
          federal agencies.  Subscribers to the EBB pay an annual 
          registration fee of $35, which allows two hours of free 
          access to the system. For access information, contact EBB 
          at (202) 377-1986.
          
          U.S. Department of Commerce/Trade Opportunities Program 
          (TOP):  TOP provides companies with current sales leads 
          from international firms seeking to buy or represent U.S. 
          products or services.  TOP leads are printed daily in 
          leading commercial newspapers, such as the Journal of 
          Commerce and are also distributed electronically via the 
          Economic Bulletin Board.  The fee varies.  Contact:  Your 
          nearest U.S. Department of Commerce district office or 
          (202) 377-4767.
          
          U.S. Department of Commerce/World Traders Data Report 
          (WTDR):  A method for checking the reputation, reliability, 
          and financial status of a prospective trading partner.  For 
          $100, an exporter can obtain this information, along with a 
          recommendation from commercial officers at the U.S. Embassy 
          as to the suitability of the company as a trading partner.  
          Contact your local U.S.  Department of Commerce district 
          office or call (202) 377-4767.
          
          U.S. Department of Commerce/Business America (BA):  The 
          principal Commerce Department publication for presenting 
          domestic and international business news.  Each biweekly 
          issue includes a "how to" article for new exporters; a 
          discussion of U.S. trade policy; news of government actions 
          that may affect trade; and a calendar of upcoming trade 
          shows, exhibitions, fairs, and seminars.  An annual 
          subscription is $49.  For information about BA, contact 
          ITA's Office of Public Affairs at (202) 377-3251, or for 
          ordering a subscription, contact the U.S. Government 
          Printing Office at (202) 783-3238.
          
          U.S. Department of Commerce/Commercial News USA (CNUSA):  A 
          monthly magazine published by the U.S. and Foreign 
          Commercial Service to promote U.S.  products and services 
          to overseas markets, which is disseminated through 240 U.S. 
          embassies and consular posts around the world.  Selected 
          portions are reprinted in newsletters that are tailored in 
          content and language to the individual country and 
          distributed to potential buyers, agents, American chambers 
          of commerce abroad, and other multipliers.  U.S. firms can 
          have their products or services highlighted for a small 
          fee.  Contact your local U.S. Department of Commerce 
          district office or call (202) 377-4918.
          
          U.S. Department of Commerce/Bureau of the Census/Center for 
          International Research (CIR):  CIR compiles and maintains 
          up-to-date global demographic and social information for 
          all countries in its International Data Base (IDB), which 
          is accessible to U.S. companies seeking to identify 
          potential markets overseas.  The information on the IDB can 
          be purchased for $175.  Contact the Systems Analysis and 
          Programming Staff at (301) 763-4811.
          
          U.S. Department of Agriculture/Economic Research Service 
          (ERS):  The ERS staff provides economic data, models, and 
          research information about agricultural economies and 
          policies of foreign countries and bilateral agricultural 
          trade and development relations.  The ERS maintains files 
          on the production and marketing of major commodities, 
          pricing data, use development and conservation of natural 
          resources, and overseas performance of the U.S. 
          agricultural industry.  It also publishes regional 
          agricultural and trade reports, commodity outlook 
          circulars, and a variety of research publications on 
          country specific issues.  Contact Agriculture and Trade 
          Analysis Division at (202) 219-0700.
          
          U.S. Department of Agriculture of Agriculture/Trade and 
          Marketing Information Centers: These centers, part of the 
          National Agriculture Library, help locate relevant material 
          from their large collection on trade and marketing, and 
          provide copies of research and data from their AGRICOLA 
          database.  Contact the Information Center Branch at (301) 
          344-3704.
          
          U.S. Department of Agriculture/Country Market Profiles:  
          These profiles are country-specific 2-4 page descriptions 
          of 40 overseas markets for high value agricultural 
          products.  They provide a market overview, market trends, 
          information on the U.S. market position, the competition, 
          and general labeling and licensing requirements.  Contact 
          the FAS Information Division at (202) 720- 7937.
          
          U.S. Department of Agriculture/AGExport Connections:  The 
          AgExport Action Kit provides information which can help put 
          U.S. exporters in touch quickly and directly with foreign 
          importers of food and agricultural products.  Contact 
          AgExport Connections Staff at (202) 720-7103.
          
          U.S. Department of Agriculture/Computerized Information 
          Delivery Service (CIDS):  CIDS provides instant access to 
          USDA reports and news releases, making time-sensitive 
          agricultural information available to any location within 
          seconds of release.  Among the information available, for a 
          fee, through CIDS are trade leads, market reports, economic 
          outlooks, and certain statistics.  For more information, 
          contact (202) 720-5505.
          
          U.S. Department of Labor/Foreign Labor Trends:  These are a 
          series of reports, issued annually, that describe and 
          analyze labor trends in more than 70 foreign countries.  
          The reports, which are prepared by the U.S.  Embassy in 
          each country, cover labor-management relations, trade 
          unions, employment and unemployment, wages and working 
          conditions, labor and government, international labor 
          activities, and other significant developments.  A list of 
          key labor indicators is also included.  Contact the Office 
          of Foreign Relations at (202) 523-6257.
          
          U.S. Department of Energy/Coal and Technology Export 
          Program:  This program promotes the export of U.S. clean 
          coal products and services by acting as an information 
          source on coal and coal technologies.  Contact the Office 
          of Fossil Energy at (202) 586-7297.
          
          Small Business Administration/Export Information System 
          (EIS):  EIS data reports provide specific product 
          information on the top 25 world markets and market growth 
          trends for the past five years.  Contact the Office of 
          International Trade at (202) 205-7264.
          
          
          
