Getting Started in the U.S.

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The SelectUSA initiative to showcase the United States as the world’s premier business location and to provide easy access to federal-level programs and services related to business investment. SelectUSA is designed to complement the activities of our states—the primary drivers of economic development in the United States.

On this page, you will find a quick description of resources available for companies in Mozambique considering investments in the United States and some suggestions for getting started.

  1. Visit the SelectUSA.gov website to obtain general information about investing in the United States. SelectUSA seeks to highlight the many advantages the United States offers as location for business and investment.  From a vast domestic market, to a transparent legal system, to the most innovative companies in the world, America is the place for business.  On the website you can browse business incentives offered by different states and territories.
  2. There are number of Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) located domestically in the United States that should be a first stop foreign companies interested in investing in the United States.  The various centers are geographically located throughout the country and can provide useful information on specific industries and sectors.
  3. Contact the U.S. Commercial Service in Maputo Maputo to discuss your interests and needs.

To view application instructions and information for business and non-immigrant visas, please visit: https://mz.usembassy.gov/visas/

Be aware there is typically a 3-week processing period for a business visa. Current information on processing time can be found at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

How to Use the AGOA Website to Identify Business Opportunities

  1. Go to http://trade.gov/agoa/ to pull up the AGOA website on the internet.
  2. Click on Eligible Countries and Procedures bar.
  3. If you are searching for a product or HTS number follow the next step.  If you have the HTS number for the product or know the name of the product, you should skip to clicking on the Trade and Tariff Information on  Eligible GSP Products.
  4. Click on GSP Product Eligibility List (the HTS numbers are in numerical order, threfore you must scroll the list until you your product).
  5. After you find your product use the BACK  function key to go back to the previous page.
  6. Click on Trade and Tariff Information on Eligible GSP Products.
  7. This links you to to the ITC Trade Data Website.  It is entitled U.S. International Trade Commission Interactive Tariff and Trade Data Web Scroll down page.
  8. Scroll down the page
  9. Click on  1999 Trade Database (However, you must use the 2000 Tariff Database now.)
  10. The user is now viewing the U.S. International Trade Commission- Tariff Database.
  11. Click on Yes, go to USITC Year 1999 Tariff Database.
  12. The user is now viewing the U.S. International Trade Commission – 1999 Tariff Database 1999 U.S. Tariff and Trade Data for a specific product.
  13. Insert the HTS number in the box or any part of a product description.
  14. Click on List Items button after inputting the information.
  15. A page will appear asking the user to select one item for which they want the tariff and trade information.
  16. Click the “Detail” button  when you have made your selection.
  17. The user will  view the U.S. ITC – 1999 Tariff Database 1999 Tariff and Most Recent Annual U.S. Import Information.
  18. Click on for more detail on imports by source country to find out which country will be your competitor if you export this product to the United States.
  19. After viewing the information click on the BACK button to take you to the previous page. Hit the “Begin” button to start a new search.

Resources to Help Find Partners or Specific Industries in the U.S.

Once you have identified products to export to the United States the next step is finding buyers and business partners,

Databases of U.S. Importers

  1. InfoUSA produces The American Business Disc, which contains 12 million businesses. Contact Larry Zeir @ 1-888-808-0022 or 1-402-592-4580 or larry.zier@infousa.comInternet: www.infoUSAdirect.com or www.infousagov.com .
  2. American Importers Association produces the Major American Importing Companies database of 14,000 companies.
  3. Journal of Commerce – has a database of U.S. Importers and U.S. Exporters containing 55,000 confirmed-active traders.  Contact Debbie Zimmermam @ 1-800-222-0356 or dzimmerman@mail.joc.com or 1-877-203-5277.
  4. www.virtualpet.com is a website that allows you to do industry or specific company searches.
  5. U.S. Association of Importers of Textile & Apparel

13 E. 16th Street
New York, New York 10003
United States
212-463-0089 (voice)
212-463-0583 (fax)
quota@aol.com
https://www.usfashionindustry.com/

Trade Leads and Matchmaking Services Available on the Internet

Trade Leads:

The following websites are just a few of the resources African businesses can use to either search or post information on the products or services they wish to sell.  Unless otherwise noted, the services provided by these websites are free.

BidMix.com – www.bidmix.com

EC21 – www.ec21.com

Export Chamber – https://www.uschamber.com/

Federation of International Trade Association – www.fita.org

  • guide to U.S. trade associations, also has a trade lead section.

Food Trader Exchange – www.tfte.com

  • specific to the food industry.

Foreign Trade Online – www.foreign-trade.com

Global Trade Villiage – http://globaltradevillage.com/index.php

International Business Forum – www.ibf.com

Owen’s Online – www.owens.com

Swiss Info Import-Export Bulletin Board – http://www.swissinfo.com/

  • quarterly subscription for $50 per quarter, annual subscription for $149. Members can post leads and access a broad range of offers, compiled from various different trade lead sources.

The Trading Floor – www.tradingfloor.com

  • a monthly subscription fee $49 gives members access to trade leads, international business information, The National Trade Data Bank, and a variety of other trade-related resources.

Trade Port – www.tradeport.org

  • trade leads focused on the state of California.

Trade Zone – www.tradezone.com

World Access Net Directory – www.wand.com

  • offers trade leads and trade information in 16 languages.

WorldBid.com – www.worldbid.com

Matchmaker Programs

U.S. Global Technology Network – http://www.usgtn.net/

  • this website provides free free trade leads and provides matchmaking services that connect foreign and U.S. businesses according to industry sector and region.

Uniworld Business Publications – www.uniworldbp.com

  • publishes directories of U.S. firms operating in foreign countries and directories of foreign firms operating in the U.S.

World Trade Center Network – www.wtca.org

  • use this website to locate World Trade Center facilities worldwide in order to find the center closest to you. World Trade Centers can provide matchmaking services and lists of trade leads. A subscription to access trade leads services via the website is free to WTC members, others can register as a guest to view trade opportunities and pay $19.95 per month to post leads through the WTC network.

Other Useful U.S. Contacts For AGOA

U.S. Customs Service
1300 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, DC 20229
Phone: (202) 927-2340
Fax: (202) 927-1879

U.S. Department of Agriculture
APHIS-PPQ, Permit Unit
4700 River Road, Unit 136
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236
Telephone: (301) 734-8645
Fax: (301) 734-5786
Website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
Customer Service Standards for Quality Grading and Certification, Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
Room 2056, South Building
Washington, DC 20250-6456
Tel: (202) 720-5870
Fax: (202) 720-0393
Website: http://www.ams.usda.gov

Food and Drug Administration
Office of Constituent Operations
International Activities Staff, HFS-585
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
200 C Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20204-0001
Tel. (202) 205-4045
Fax (202) 401-7739
Website: http://www.fda.gov

FDA Office of Seafood
200 C Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20204-0001
Tel. (202) 418-3133

Seafood Inspection Program
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel. (301) 713-2355
Fax (301) 713-1081
Email: Kenneth.Aadsen@noaa.gov
Website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/noaas-seafood-inspection-program

Mbendi Information Systems
P.O. Box 23498
Claremont, 7735
South Africa
Phone: +27 (0)21 671-9889
FAX: +27 (0)21 671-6316
E-Mail: Mbendi@Mbendi.co.za
Contacts brokers and handles your exports to the U.S. free of charge

The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc.
1200 18th Street, NW, #901
Washington, DC 20036
Phone (202) 466-0222 Fax (202) 466-0226
E-Mail: staff@ncbfaa.org

African Growth and Opportunity Act
U.S. Department of Commerce
Office of Africa, HCHB 2037
Washington, DC 20230
Website: http://trade.gov/agoa/

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