Last year I created a Web directory for LTIBC-Export members that I would now like to share on our blog. This directory contains a wide range of information on international trade and I therefore encourage you to consult it. To make searching easier, I have divided it into 10 sections, as follows:
- Search engines
- General tools
- Strategic tools
- Competitive intelligence
- Market information
- Financial aspects
- Regulatory, legal and normative aspects
- Business-related cultural aspects
- Logistical aspects
Search Engines
With the Canadian Trade Commissioner’s search engine, you can search over 40 trade sites.
A free database listing thousands of Canadian businesses.
The Web site of the Ministère du Développement économique, Innovation et Exportation.
A federal government Web site containing export-related information.
General Tools
A very detailed directory of international trade shows:
A visualization tool that allows you to generate animated graphics with different international statistics in X and Y axes. The data is mostly about development and is taken from the U.N.
A fun tool that allows you to explore cities and emerging urban clusters that will drive dramatic growth and demographic change over the next generation.
Site showing the world’s time zones
A site that shows the best time to book flights to get the lowest price. Also offers travel deals
Strategic tools
A detailed outline of what to include in an export plan
Mercadex’s Podium-GallowsTM tool to help you prioritize your international product-market combinations
The Peterson Institute for International Economics Web site will help you stay abreast of political, economic, sociological, technological, environmental and legal developments abroad.
Competitive intelligence
For information about the competition or to find Chinese suppliers
Another site to find Asian suppliers
A Web site where you can determine and compare price trends for certain commodities or products
A free online competitive intelligence tool. Receive an alert every time your competition’s Web site change.
Market information
Canada’s foreign affairs office
Québec delegation offices abroad
Export Development Canada. Find a wide variety of export tools, articles and country profiles. Also an excellent resource to find funding for your export projects.
Portal of Canada’s Trade Commissioner (information classified by country)
Visit the Coface Web site for information on risk by industry, country, etc.
Lists the Web sites of the foreign embassies in Ottawa.
Interex contains interesting fact sheets on different countries.
Economic services available in France.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)
For country profiles and macroeconomic information
The Economist Intelligence Unit
Doing Business (Ranking)
Industry Sector Analysis and International Market Insight (Some of the market studies are free)
Free non-partisan site that compiles statistics on U.S. public opinion; includes various consumer confidence indices
BrazilTradeNet offers free access to information about companies in Brazil and lists all the trade shows in that country.
Everything a Quebec company needs to know before venturing into the E.U. market. A great decision-making tool
Financial aspects
Directory of financial assistance programs
A guide with Excel worksheets to help you calculate the cost of production, transport, delivery and transaction financing for your export goods.
Regulatory, legal and normative aspects
World Intellectual Property Organization
International Property Rights Index
A tool to obtain a certificate of origin online. This service, for companies that export outside the U.S., cuts down on the time and cost of obtaining certificates of origin.
Extensive information on taxation in nearly 60 jurisdictions.
Business-related cultural aspects
Mercadex contains all types of indices, for example, the corruption index for various countries, the Intellectual Property Protection Index and Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Index.
Visit www.transparency.org to see the level of corruption in different countries.
Logistics aspects
To find out your HS code
Once you know your HS code, visit the WCO site to find out the tariffs of over 105 countries
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act
