For assistance EXPORTING FROM the U.S. to foreign countries, click here. For assistance IMPORTING from foreign countries INTO the U.S., click here. Hands- on assistance to companies desiring to enter the international market place as exporters, or needing assistance with their efforts in exporting their goods and/or services, is available through the U.S. Department of Commerce's U.S. Commercial Service (www.export.gov or 800-USA-TRADE). The U.S Commercial Service is the premier global export business solutions provider of the U.S. Government. It is dedicated to helping U.S companies succeed internationally. Through a global network of approximately 1800 trade specialists working in 109 domestic offices and 80 markets worldwide, the Commercial Service helps U.S. companies make international sales with world-class market research, trade events that promote their products or services to qualified buyers, introductions to qualified buyers and distributors, and counseling through every step of the export process. Through a formal arrangement with the U.S. Department of Sate, Commercial Service maintains Commercial Diplomacy Partnerships in 100 medium and small markets world-wide. In 2006, this assistance has facilitated nearly 12,000 export successes, worth billions of dollars in U.S. export sales. To access the U.S. Commercial Service for assistance EXPORTING FROM THE U.S., click here. The Global Trade & Technology Network (GTN) has provided import. assistance to both U.S. and foreign companies since 1994, generating business transactions with an estimated value of over $345 million. To access the Global Trade & Technology Network (GTN) for IMPORT assistance TO THE U.S., click here. To reach GTN for GENERAL INFORMATION, click here. GTN HISTORY It all started in 1994, when the GTN was created as a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program to assist U.S companies to establish export business relationships with foreign firms, specifically in developing countries and emerging markets, in four business sectors (agriculture, health care, telecommunication, and energy and environment). more... "Exports boost jobs, grow the economy and allow businesses to prosper," said U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez. "New data shows that companies across the country are thriving in the global economy. It also reinforces the positive role that trade and EXPPORTS had in creating jobs and growing local economies." The new 2006 data shows that: Seven metropolitan areas posted export sales of $25 billion or more. These markets include New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, Houston-Sugar land-Baytown, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara. An additional 30 metro areas exported between $5 billion and $24 billion. These top 37 metro areas accounted for 61 percent of total U.S. merchandise EXPORTS in 2006. A total of 290 metropolitan areas (79 percent) recorded positive growth in area EXPORTS between 2005 and 2006. Twenty-eight major metropolitan areas expanded EXPORTS by $1 billion or more between 2005 and 2006. Twenty-four other metropolitan areas posted 2005-2006 EXPORT increases between $500 million and $1 billion, while 89 more metropolitan areas registered EXPORT increases increases in the $100 million to $499 million range. Fifteen metropolitan areas accounted for at least 50 percent of their state's merchandise EXPORTS in 2006. For additional information and to view the complete data series and methodology, visit www.trade.gov/metrodata. Take the first step today to become an EXPORTER. Click here to register your company for EXPORT ASSISTANCE from the U.S. Commercial Service and the Global Trade & Technology Network (GTN). There are 1800 U.S. Commercial Service International Trade Specialists working in 109 domestic offices and 80 overseas posts ready to assist you.