The World Trade Center Orlando Institute is part of the WTC
Orlando and is an educational, non-profit organization under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Institute is dedicated to
providing practical, real world business training to ensure that you and your
employees remain current on all of the nuances of international trade. Our
comprehensive seminars focus on realistic approaches and concrete
explanations to a wide variety of international business subjects. In each
session, local and nationally known experts delve into the most pressing and
timely subjects in international trade. For more information on upcoming
lectures and events,please visit our EVENTS
page.

How does the World Trade Center (WTC) differ from
the World Trade Organization (WTO)?

The WTO is an international organization and is the successor to
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) established in the wake of
the Second World War. With nation-states as its members, the WTO’s overriding
objective is to help trade flow smoothly, freely, fairly and predictably
through its involvement in:

For more information regarding the WTO, visit their website at
www.wto.org

How does the WTC Orlando work with Enterprise
Florida and the Office of Trade and Economic Development (OTED)?

The WTC Orlando and Enterprise Florida and the OTED have worked
together since 1992. The WTC’s programs and educational courses support the
mission of the State’s international trade office and in turn, Enterprise
Florida supports our programs and works closely with the WTC Orlando to bring
focus to Orlando’s international business community.

Established by the Florida General Assembly, the State’s ITO was
given two goals:

By promoting Florida exports and attracting foreign investment,
Enterprise helps to build Florida’s identity as an international business
center, encouraging foreign buyers to look to Florida for products and
services. Enterprise is available to the public and most services are
rendered at no cost.

Enterprise Florida is home to trade and investment specialists
that offer a wide range of services to assist new and existing business of
every size.  Trade specialists counsel
clients on Florida investment opportunities, analyzing markets, determining
export potential, identifying market entry strategies, providing market
research, locating potential distributors or agents and working with
companies on international trade shows. More information on Enterprise
Florida and the OTED can be found, by clicking on the links.

How does the WTC Orlando work with the Department of
Commerce’s U.S. Export Assistance Center
(USEAC)?

The WTC Orlando and the Orlando office of the U.S. Department of
Commerce’s U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) have worked together to help
Florida exporters for over two decades. The Orlando USEAC is part of an
international network of global professionals with 165 offices in 82
countries throughout the world. The trade specialists at the USEAC focus on
trade industries rather than global regions. They assist companies by
offering:

What are the benefits of WTC Orlando Membership and
how do I become a member?

As a non-profit membership association, the WTC Orlando offers
members priority access to international business training, global expertise,
and networking connections both locally and through World Trade Centers
around the world.  Members also gain
free access to International Business Resources, Publications, and
International Networking Events.  Most
of the events and lectures given by the World Trade Center Orlando are
offered to members at a discounted rate. 
For more information on how to become a member, including membership
packages and pricing, please visit our Become a Member/Renew
page.

What services does the World Trade Center Orlando
provide and how much do they cost?

The WTC Orlando provides a myriad of different services to Members
and non-members. Some services we are pleased to provide free of charge to
our Members. Other services carry a fee for Members and non-members. Free
Member services include Certificates of
Origin and Certificates
of Free Sale, Research Inquiries, networking events, and WTC
Orlando Membership Directories. Discounted services include WISER Trade Statistic
Reports, Roundtables, training
programs and meeting rooms. For a full listing of services and pricing
quotes, please contact the WTC Orlando at (407) 894-5740

What do the seminars and courses offered by the WTC
Institute cost and what are the accepted methods of
payment?

The cost for each course varies but generally ranges from as low
as $60 for some of our basic classes to $300 for some of the more advanced or
multi-day seminars.  To see the pricing
for each class, please visit the EVENTS/PROGRAMS page to see
specific events.

Pre-payment or payment at the event is required for all events and
lectures. On the event page you can follow the ‘PayPal link’ under the event
to pay for the event.  If registering
online or feel more comfortable giving your information over the phone to the
WTC Orlando , please call the WTC Orlando at 407-894-5740 with your credit
card information.

I want to start exporting. Where can I find
information about beginning the process?

The U.S. Department of Commerce makes available through their
website a free guide to basic exporting that can help you decide your first
steps into that new market. This guide can be found at www.export.gov or
receive information at Exporters/Importers Guide at http://www.eximguru.com/. Export.gov
also provides you with many more trade resources or answers to questions you
may have about taking your company or product overseas. Enterprise Florida
also provides a guide for exporting at Exporting
Assistance.

Other valuable resources and websites can be found under our
TRADE RESOURCES tab. These links will provide
regional and national market information, as well as possible means for
funding, international news, basic business guides, etc. The World Trade
Center Orlando also provides many events and lectures on international trade
basics. These classes provide you the chance to learn from experienced
instructors and consultants and ask any questions you may have about
exporting your product. For more information on upcoming events and lectures,
please visit 
EVENTS section.

Are there sources of legal assistance for people who
are new to exporting?

There are several legal assistance resources available to help
businesses that are new to exporting:

The Department of Commerce Office of Chief Counsel for
International Commerce can provide information on various legal
issues of interest to U.S. exporters on their website at www.osec.doc.gov/ogc/occic.

The Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN) is
a nationwide group of attorneys with experience in international trade
sponsored by the Federal Bar Association. These attorneys volunteer their
time to provide initial legal consultations free of charge to small
businesses interested in starting export operations. For more information on
the ELAN, please visit their website at www.exportlegal.org.

The American Bar Association (ABA) publishes
information on the legal aspects of doing business in specific countries,
including guides to foreign law firms and law organizations. For more
information on the ABA, please visit the International section of the ABA
website at www.abanet.org/intnat/home.html.

A listing of Private Attorneys and Law Firms (found under the
heading, Legal Services) that are currently WTC Orlando members can be found
on our website under the Industry Member Listing.

Where can I find International Market
Research?

To successfully export your product, you should examine foreign
markets through research. The purpose is to identify marketing opportunities
and constraints abroad, as well as to identify prospective buyers and
customers. Market research encompasses all methods that a company can use to
determine which foreign markets have the best potential for its products.
Results of this research inform the firm of: the largest markets for its
product, the fastest growing markets, market trends and outlook, market
conditions and practices, and competitive firms and products.

If you do not have the time or means to travel to a potential
market to conduct your own research, the U.S. Commercial Service provides
excellent country-specific market information on their website at www.buyusa.gov/home/export.html.
Depending on the country and the size and potential of their market, an
exporter can find information on doing business in that country, the business
culture, the import regulations, Country Commercial Guides,
etc.

Often times, the best way to find market research is to actually
travel to the market and research the environment and potential customers or
buyers for your product.  Unz &
Co. provide a guide to performing Market Research and Developing a Market
Plan at no charge on their website www.unzco.com/basicguide/c2.html.

The WTC Institute of Florida provides seminars on Basic Exporting
and Developing a Winning Export Market Plan that provide exporters with
information on how to perform and use market research.  For more information on upcoming classes
and seminars, please visit our Events page to learn about our future events
and lectures.

Where can I find Financing for my Exporting
Business?

Export.gov
provides a broad overview of U.S. Government export financing programs,
including those that can provide working capital, export insurance, and
federal grant resources. This can be found at www.export.gov/finance/exp_international_fin_home.asp.
This includes information on the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the
Export-Import Bank.

There are also many Private Banks that will provide loans and
working capital to companies looking to expand their business
internationally. A listing of Financial Services, Banking and Accounting
providers that are currently WTC Orlando members can be found in our Member
Listings by Industry index page..

What is an Export License and do all U.S. Exports
require one?

An export license grants permission to conduct a certain type of
export transaction. It is issued by the appropriate licensing agency after a
careful review of the facts surrounding the given export transaction. Not all
exports require a license. In fact, a relatively small percentage of all U.S.
export transactions require licenses from the U.S.
government.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the U.S. Department
of Commerce is responsible for licensing products for export. The specialists
at BIS can also help you navigate the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
to find out whether you must apply for a license and how to submit the
requisite application. An excellent explanation of how to understand the
Export Administration Regulations and more information on Export Compliance
is available on the BIS Web site at www.bis.doc.gov/licensing/ExportingBasics.htm.
BIS’s Office of Exporter Services in Washington, DC, (202-482-4811) can also
guide you through this process.

The WTC Institute of Florida also provides training focused on
Export Compliance, as well as an annual two-day BIS Compliance Seminar taught
by the specialists from the Bureau of Industry and Security.  For more information on upcoming compliance
classes and seminars, please visit our EVENTS/PROGRAMS
Education & Training page.

How can I obtain information about Importing
products into the United States?

To obtain U.S. tariff (duty) rates for imports, check on
regulations such as import quotas, or obtain general import information,
visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (U.S. Department of Homeland
Security) website at www.cbp.gov
and click on “Import.” You should also visit the U.S. International Trade
Commission website at www.usitc.gov and click on “Tariff
Schedule.” Local Customs offices can also be contacted for import
information. A comprehensive listing of U.S. Customs offices and contacts is
available on the U.S. Customs website at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/.

The WTC Institute of Florida also provides classes and seminars on
the Basics of Importing, Intermediate Importing, Import Law, Import
Valuation, and Duty Drawback. For more information on upcoming classes and
seminars, please visit our EVENTS/PROGRAMS Education &
Training page.

How do I ship my product
Overseas?

When shipping a product overseas, the exporter must be aware of
packing, labeling, documentation, and insurance requirements. Most exporters
rely on an international freight forwarder to perform these services because
of the multitude of considerations involved in physically exporting
goods.

Export.gov provides information and assistance in shipping both
agricultural and non-agricultural products overseas on their website www.export.gov/logistics/exp_shipping_overseas.asp.
The information found there can help an exporter distinguish the
documentation requirements for export shipments, explain the considerations
when selecting a method of shipment, and provide insurance and foreign tax
information.

What/Who is a Customs
Broker?

Customs Brokers are the only persons who are authorized by U.S.
Customs regulations to act as agents for the importers for the transaction of
their Customs business. Customs brokers are private individuals or firms
licensed by the Treasury Department to prepare and file the necessary Customs
entries for importers, including arranging for the payment of duties found
due, securing release of goods in Customs custody and otherwise representing
principals in Customs matters. Many brokers help clients choose modes of
transportation and appropriate carriers, provide assistance to importers in
assigning shipments the best routes, assisting with estimates for landed
costs, payments of goods through draft, letters of credit insurance, and
re-delivery of cargo if there is more than one port of
destination.

The customs broker must possess thorough knowledge of tariff
schedules and Customs regulations and keep abreast of the amendments made
through constant changes in the law and administrative regulations. The
broker must be well-versed in determining proper classifications and dutiable
value, and be fully aware of the vast number of commodities subject to
quotas.

To find a list of WTC Members who can assist you with your Customs
Brokerage needs, please visit our Member Listings by
Industry.

Why should I use a Freight-Forwarder and where can I
find one?

To comply with export documentation and shipping requirements,
many exporters utilize a freight forwarder to act as their shipping agent.
The forwarder advises and assists clients on how to move goods most
efficiently from one destination to another. A forwarder’s extensive
knowledge of documentation requirements, regulations, transportation costs
and banking practices can ease the exporting process for many companies.

Whether the firm is large or small, the weight of the cargo light
or heavy, the freight forwarder will take care of cargo from “dock to door”
if requested to do so. This can include the correct filing of export
documentation, all arrangements with carriers, packing, crating and storage
needs. So, the small and medium-size exporter need not deal with many of the
details involved with the logistics of exporting their goods. In addition,
freight forwarders typically charge modest rates for their services and have
access to shipping discounts.

A listing of Freight-Forwarders that are currently WTC Orlando
members can be found on our website under the Member Listings by
Industry.

Where can I find information on the WTC Orlando
Internship Program?

The World Trade Center Orlando hires unpaid interns for the fall
and spring semesters. The applicant should be in undergraduate or graduate
school, and studying International Trade, Economics, or Business. More
information on the internship, the dates, and the application requirements
can be found in our Internship page.

Where is the World Trade Center
Orlando?

The World Trade Center Orlando is located on the corner of Fern
Creek and Amelia.  Our address is 1600
East Amelia Street, Orlando, FL. 32825.

Where can I find information on Hotels, Restaurants,
and Things To Do in Orlando?

The Orlando/Orange County Convention Visitors Bureau, http://www.visitorlando.com/.
Their website provides detailed information on events in Orlando, our World
Wide attractions and theme parks, hotel information, lists of things to do,
dining suggestions and more. They have also included available discounts and
coupons on hotels and restaurants.

The Downtown Orlando,
www.downtownorlando.com, provides visitors with a listing of events
and attractions, areas for shopping and dining, and information on parking
and hotels in Downtown Orlando. From here, you can navigate to find
information on different parts of downtown.