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| New! International Marketing case studies from the Australian perspective I. General Multi-link Sites A. CIBERwebhttp://ciber.centers.purdue.edu/ This site has links to all the CIBER Centers from around the United States. See MSU Ciber (below) for an example of the types of information available from ciber sites. B. MSU CIBERThis site links international business and country information in a logical, easy to use format. Information is quickly obtained by using the on-site search engine. MSU-CIBER is dedicated to:
This site, run by the University of Texas, provides an extensive number of sources for information on Latin American studies on the WWW. Major categories within this site are:
Brint is a comprehensive site that offers links to a wide range of data. This site provides access to business, communication, import-export, linguistic, legal, marketing, media, monetary, public affairs, research, technology, trade, and travel information for the world level resources. Many of these resources provide specific country level information. Selected country level information on similar issues is also available on our International Business & Technology: Country Level page. It also provides an in-depth focus on business and technology issues related to India on the Business & Information Technology in India page. Major categories include: International Business, Trade & Technology
UNESCO provides information that students can use in class projects, assignments, and other research efforts. Below is a sampling of links on the UNESCO site: About UNESCO B. The World Bank Group This site provides information relevant to the World Bank. Much of the information is for sale, however selected data are provided free of charge. The site index lists: News, Publications, Countries and Regions, Doing Business with the Bank, and Special Interest Topics. Under Special Interest Topics are: "The Year 200 Problem", "World Development Indicators," and "World Bank Partnerships." Several tables from the publication, World Development Indicators, are provided free of charge.C. OECD HomepageWhat is the OECD?The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is a Paris-based intergovernmental organization whose purpose is to provide its 29 Member countries with a forum in which governments can compare their experiences, discuss the problems they share, and seek solutions which can then be applied within their own national contexts. The Organization is thus entirely at the service of its Member countries. It forms a homogeneous entity in that each Member country is committed to the principles of the market economy and pluralistic democracy. The fundamental task of the OECD is straightforward: namely to enable its members to consult and co-operate with each other in order to achieve the highest sustainable economic growth in their countries and improve the economic and social well-being of their populations. The OECD offers advice and makes recommendations to its members to help them to define their policies. On occasion its also arbitrates negotiations of multilateral agreements and establishes legal codes in certain areas of activity. The Organization is a forum for objective, skilled and independent dialogue which permits a thorough understanding and true assessment of the problems posed in today's increasingly complex world. The great comparative advantages of the OECD are its multidisciplinary approach - a capacity to cover all areas of government activity in a consistent way - and its system of consensus building through peer pressure. Within the different committees the peer pressure system encourages countries to be transparent, to provide explanations and justifications, and to be self-critical where necessary, the practice of self-assessment being the most original characteristic of the OECD. This site offers statistics, news and events and free documents. It is an excellent source for country data on its member countries. The statistics include: Economic Indicators, National Accounts, Leading Indicators of Industry and Services, Purchasing Power Parities, and International Trade in Goods and Services to mention a few. It also offers search capability. D. World Trade OrganizationThe World Trade Organization's official web site offers up-to-date information on the international trading system, its rules, and how it works. Who is it for? Anyone interested in these issues: from students, people in business, and the general public, to delegates in Geneva, officials in capitals, and other trade specialists. Information on the site ranges from introductions to the issues to in-depth material for specialists.What can you find here? A choice of 3 languages: English, French and Spanish. Make your choice from the buttons on the home page.What's new? The homepage's central panel features the latest developments in the WTO. An introduction to the WTO for non-specialists: This section is called "About the WTO". It's in six sections covering over 40 web pages. It includes: basic principles, the agreements, disputes in the WTO, future work, developing countries in the WTO, and how the organization operates. Links to this section are at the top of the homepage and many other pages.Explanations and guides focusing on specific aspects of WTO work: Many of these can be downloaded and installed on your computer for future reference. Legal texts and thousands of WTO working documents: They are added to the site's document database daily.Trade disputes in the WTO: Panel and appeals reports are available on the site the minute they are made public. New WTO agreements: such as the recently-concluded negotiations on telecommunications, information technology equipment and financial services.WTO meetings and conferences: Summaries and documents. Trade and developing countries: Issues and documents dealing specifically with developing and least developed countriesTrade policy reviews: Accounts of the WTO's regular reviews of its members' trade policies. How do you find all this material?At the top of all principal pages are: links to "About the WTO" (the introduction to the WTO), a map of the site, a registration form (optional, to give us an idea of who you are and what you're interested in), and a choice of languages. The top banner also includes "search" to help you track down webpages containing specific key words. From time to time the top banner on the homepage also includes a special link. This year (1998) is the 50th anniversary of the multilateral trading system. Click on the anniversary logo to reach information about the occasion, including an assessment of the achievements of the system, and a short slideshow.At the side of all principal pages: blue and brown buttons help you jump easily from one part of the site to another. You can choose a topic or sector, or pick a resource. Blue buttons link to information on the key sectors of activity covered by the WTO. Brown buttons lead to different types of information resources. E. APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was formed in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies. Begun as an informal dialogue group with limited participation, APEC has since become the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic cooperation. Its goal is to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community. The Asia-Pacific is experiencing the most striking economic growth in the world. It is a major contributor to global prosperity and stability. Today, APEC includes all the major economies of the region and the most dynamic, fastest growing economies in the world. This site is a major source of information about APEC and its member countries.III. Asia/Pacific Region A. JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) is a nonprofit, Japanese government-supported organization dedicated to promoting mutually beneficial trade and economic relationships between Japan and other nations. http://jetro.go.jpThis site includes the following topics: Doing Business With Japanese Firms
Business Information
About JETRO
B. Times of India http://timesofindia.comThe on-line edition of this English-language newspaper published in New Delhi provides daily news updates. Coverage of India's recent nuclear tests, as well as the regional and global reactions to them, has been extensive. The site has compiled all of the nuclear-related articles into a special section for easy reference. Sections for international, national, sports and other subjects each have a front page with paragraph-long article summaries. After browsing the summaries, you can click to summon the full text of any article. You can also follow a link to visit the Times's sister publication, Economic Times, for business and financial news. C. National Informatics CentreThis electronic outpost of the Indian government serves as a jumping-off point to information about Parliament and India's various ministries. Those interested in investments or business opportunities in India can pore over the nation's annual budget report or read economic data and projections. Below the level of the national government, you'll also find pages devoted to India's individual states and union territories. D. Asian Best Web SitesThe following sites are either based in Asia or have a strong Asian flavor. AUSTRALIAAsian Studies WWW Virtual Library www.coombs.anu.edu.auAustralian National University maintains a prodigious list of sites dealing with all the countries in Asia. The emphasis is on political, economic and academic sites, but this really is the place to go if you want to know how to find sites dealing with, say, North Korea. CHINAChina the Beautiful www.chinapage.orgProvides information on Chinese history, literature, philosophy and other information. HONG KONGHong Kong Weather Underground www.underground.org.hkThis site has useful and real-time information on current weather and travelers' forecasts for Asia. Chinese University of Hong Kong. www.cuhk.hk/enContains information on Web sites not only in Asia, but throughout the world. SINGAPOREAsia One www.asia1.com.sgA collection of excellent sites from Singapore Press Holdings, such as Straits Times Interactive as well as Business Times Online. All these pages are updated frequently. Singapore Airlines From flight schedules to special holiday offers to news about SIA's Changi Airport home base. The Singapore Airlines site offers a good introduction to the Lion City.THAILAND Asian Institute of Technology This institution is based in Bangkok, but it has a lot of useful information on Southeast Asia, including maps.IV. Miscellaneous Information Sources A. CULTURGRAMS A Culturgram is a four-page briefing designed specifically to introduce readers to the daily customs and lifestyles, as well as the political and economic structure, of a nation. Our goal is to present the people of a culture to the reader, thus encouraging understanding and appreciation between those of different nationalities. Ideal for educators, students, community leaders, businessmen and women, government representatives, and travelers, Culturgrams provide clear, concise information about daily life in a given nation. A glossary is also available containing information to help Culturgram readers use and understand the variety of terms found in the series. Each four-page Culturgram strives to offer readers an accurate view of a culture rather than focusing on statistical data. A number of other fine resources present national statistics, but few inform the reader about people on a personal level. In an effort to present the people of various cultures, the following topics are included in each Culturgram : More information about Culturgrams, Infograms, scholarly papers, journals, and books and ordering information can be accessed at: http://www.culturegrams.comB. Global SIG (American Marketing Association) http://www.cba.hawaii.edu/ama(Note: The URL for Global SIG changes frequently. If the URL above does not access the site, go to: www.ama.org for a new address.) The Global SIG Web site includes upcoming events, links to related sites, links to on-line international business courses, and other information. This is a good site to find information on conferences and special programs. C. Academy of International BusinessThis site provides international business links organized by country and geographic region. The subgroups titled Japan, Aisa/Pacific, Canada, and Europe have at least ten links to specific sources. The site also has a International Business Research Index where research articles can be searched by author, title, topic (key word) and /or journal. D. General Information for ExpatriatesThis site provides useful information for those living abroad or those who are planning to live abroad. Examples of its contents are: Living OverseasOverseas jobs, Moving overseas, Living overseas, Unique Lifestyles, Embassies, and other relevant articles. Country DestinationsInformation on various countries and regions including Japan, Belize, Australia, South America, and Europe. Investing OverseasFree Trade Zones, mail drops, web communications, telecommuting and real estate. Expatriate MagazineArticles from Expatriate magazine with articles on such topics as Escape from America, International Living, and Transitions Abroad. Global ReferencesExpatriate phone directory, Visas, Expatriate Search Tools, World's Newspapers, Hospitals worldwide and an Expatriate's book store. V. United States GovernmentA. International Trade Data Service http://www.itds.treas.govThe ITDS system is being developed to improve trade procedures, trade promotion, trade policy development, and trade statistics to benefit both the Public and the Government. The site includes the following: International Trade and Transport Advisor (ITTA)The IT&T Advisor is a WWW application under development to assist those in the international trade community by providing basic information on international trade. This site will identify Federal government procedures on international trade and the rules and regulations required to import, export, finance, and transport international transactions. Additionally, the IT&T Advisor will provide resources available from the public sector that can assist you with your trading requirements. THE EXPORT ADVISOR provides the following links:
B. International Trade Administration ITA oversees the operations of four principal units: The Commercial Service, which provides business counseling to U.S. exporters in 83 domestic offices and 134 overseas offices in 69 countries. Trade Development, whose industry sector specialists provide information and analysis to U.S. exporters, policymakers and all trade negotiators. Market Access and Compliance, whose country experts provide invaluable market analysis to U.S. business. Import Administration, which safeguards the American economy from unfairly priced imports. The Office of Trade and Economic Analysis (OTEA), a department of the ITA, conducts a comprehensive program of data development, dissemination, and research and analysis on international and domestic trade and investment issues to support trade promotion and trade policy responsibilities of Trade Development, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce and U.S. Government organizations and officials. The office also coordinates the trade policy implementation activities of the Trade Development unit. Some of information provided by the OTEA is listed below. U.S. Foreign Trade HighlightsOver 100 tables of goods & services trade by country and region. (Downloadable files available). U.S. Foreign Trade Update
A facility open to the public for researching foreign export markets. Statistics available from U.S., other countries, and international organizations. Trade Policy Information System
Exports by state to the world and selected markets for 1987-1997. (Downloadable files available). Metropolitan Area Exports
C. International Portals http://www.firstgov.gov/ - select "The US in the World" for a list of countries with links to government data sources for each country and "Related links" which include the following:
D. USA Trade- Your Global Business Partner Online http://www.usatradeonline.govThe U.S. Commercial Service offers valuable assistance to help your business export goods and services to markets worldwide. From this site you can access a global listing of trade events, international market research, and practical tools to help with every step of the export process. USATrade.gov and the U.S. Commercial Service are ready to help your business prosper in today's global economy. Country Commercial GuidesThe Country Commercial Guides (CCG) are prepared by US Embassy Staff once a year and contain information on the business and economic situation of foreign countries and the political climate as it affects U.S. business. Each CCG contains the same chapters, and an appendix, which include topics such as marketing, trade regulations, investment climate, and business travel. VI. EUROPE A. European Union information This site offers a comprehensive guide to European Union issues. Each of the institutions of the EU can be accessed as well as basic information on the EU. The policies section provides access by subject to legal instruments in force, legislative activity in progress, implementation of common policies, EU grants and loans, statistics and publications. It also provides access to press releases from the EU institutions, the daily ECU rate, the latest statistics and other news.VII. LATIN AMERICA A. Information sources for Mexico This site ranges from typical tourist information to important sources of information on culture, politics, and history. Visit the index for a comprehensive view of what is in this site. An especially interesting link is Unusual Mexico Linkslisted on the homepage, which will offer a variety of links to other sources on Mexico.B. Latin Trade Magazine Your Business Source for Latin America http://www.latintrade.comWho Are We? We are devoted to Latin America & the Caribbean. We enlighten the key players of the world who demand to be better informed about Latin America. We are visionary, objective and factual. We are unequivocally the most comprehensive business source for Latin America & the Caribbean.Latin Trade permits searches of archives of past issues. C. Mercosur Home page for Mercosur with links to various sources about Mercosur in Spanish and Portuguese only.D. NAFTA Homepage www.ustr.gov/regions/whemisphere/nafta.shtmlA primary objective of the Office of NAFTA and Inter-American Affairs (ONA) is to provide accurate and timely information to U.S. exporters experiencing market access barriers in Canada or Mexico. In an effort to better serve the business community, questions regarding commercial and economic conditions in Mexico or Canada, including tariff rates, are now being handled by our Trade Information Center, and our nationwide U.S. Export Assistance Centers. You can reach the Trade Information Center or nearest Export Center by phone at 1-800-872-8723. Facing trade barriers? Playing field not level? Our new Center is the place for YOU! We are committed to helping the U.S. exporting community overcome market access barriers. Please visit the Trade Compliance Center's website for further information on what the Department of Commerce can do for you.Our Clients Canada, including guidance on trade policy issues and business practices.Our Services Market Access and Compliance Counseling:If you have a unique market access problem or issue not covered in our materials , our trade specialists are available to discuss, in more detail, NAFTA, as well as trade related issues outside the framework of the Agreement. Speakers' Bureau: ONA Staff is available to speak to business audiences on a variety of topics, including:NAFTA Overview NAFTA and its benefits for specific industriesTrade related contacts "NAFTA Facts" Information Hotline: (800) 872.8723 (202) 582.4464 ONA responds to thousands of business inquiries each month. To respond to this high volume of requests, we established "NAFTA Facts," an automated information system which can send a wide variety of NAFTA information to your fax machine. Access NAFTA Facts to view the menu and a sampling of documents available on the system. This system is very popular with our customers who use it frequently to stay up to date on various trade related issues affecting Canada and Mexico. We consider "NAFTA Facts" to be the "first step" in our market access and compliance counseling process.Types of information available through this Page include: The NAFTA Border Home Page Additional Trade Related Resources Web Sites of Special Interest Commission for Environmental Cooperation Home Page Commission for Labor Cooperation (NAALC) U.S. National Administrative Office North American Development Bank Home Page Border Environment Cooperation Commission Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Home Page NAFTA Advisory Committee on Private Commercial Disputes E. SICE http://www.sice.oas.org/The "Foreign Trade Information System" (SICE for short from its Spanish acronym--Sistema de Información al Comercio Exterior) -- the information technology arm of the Trade Unit of the Organization of American States (OAS). Our goal is to provide the most complete information and documents on trade in the Western Hemisphere as possible. SICE centralizes the location of public--but often difficult to locate or obtain--documents on our Web site in the four official languages of the OAS (English, Spanish, Portuguese and French). Our pages are divided into several general categories:The "FTAA Process" provides information on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) process begun by leaders of the Western Hemisphere in December 1994 at the Miami Summit of the Americas. These pages provide official documents of the meetings as well as background information and documents emerging from the meetings of business people which have been held alongside the Ministerials. Within the OAS, SICE is part of the "OAS Trade Unit". The Trade Unit pages give you a chance to see what our colleagues do on the analytical side. The Trade Unit was established to provide assistance in the FTAA process, and it is very active in the process. Our "Trade Agreements" section is the heart of our information: the full text of trade agreements between nations of the Western Hemisphere. The "Investment Treaties " area likewise provides full text of investment agreements. Just in case you don't want to read an entire trade agreement, we have "Summaries" available of our most accessed agreements. We hope to have more summaries in the near future. The Dispute Settlement section provides infomation on disputes on agreements, treaties and arrangements of integration on the Western Hemisphere. Some of which are the GATT, WTO, Andean Community and NAFTA Panel Reports. Our " Links to Official Sources " is just that, with links to government sources of information throughout the hemisphere. Trade is more than just official documents and pronouncements. " Trade in Action " provides links to private sector information and opportunities throughout the Hemisphere, with business guides and directories and links to business associations and lists of trade leads. F. Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) www.ftaa-alca.orgThis site provides information on the FTAA. It includes information on the progress of the FTAA, its history and structure, negotiating groups and links to additional resources. G. MaquiladorasA searchable database of the Maquiladora Twin Plant industry for suppliers, manufacturers and support industries. A one-stop international trade resource and general information about Mexico. Appendix: Sources of Secondary Data (From Text--Chapter 8)For almost any marketing research project, an analysis of available secondary information is a useful and inexpensive first step. Although there are information gaps, particularly for detailed market information, the situation on data availability and reliability is improving. The principal agencies that collect and publish information useful in international business are presented here, with some notations regarding selected publications. A. Websites for International Marketing1. www.stat-usa.gov. STAT-USA/Internet is clearly the single most important source of data on the Internet. STAT-USA, a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economics and Statistics Administration, produces and distributes at a nominal subscription fee the most extensive government-sponsored business, economic, and trade information databases in the world today, including the National Trade Data Bank (see section B6 of this appendix), Economic Bulletin Board, and Global Business Procurement Opportunities. The U.S. government actively promotes the expansion of U.S. business into international trade. In the process of keeping U.S. businesses informed of foreign opportunities, the U.S. government generates a considerable amount of general and specific market data for use by international market analysts. The principal source of information from the U.S. government is the Department of Commerce, which makes its services available to U.S. businesses in a variety of ways. First, information and assistance are available either through personal consultation in Washington, D.C., or through any of the US&FCS (U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service) district offices of the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce located in key cities in the United States. Second, the Department of Commerce works closely with trade associations, chambers of commerce, and other interested associations in providing information, consultation, and assistance in developing international commerce. Third, the department publishes a wide range of information available to interested persons at nominal cost. 1. Foreign Trade Report FT410. U.S. exports—commodity by country. The FT410 provides a statistical record of all merchandise shipped from the United States to foreign countries, including both quantity and dollar value of these exports to each country during the month covered by the report. Additionally, it contains cumulative export statistics from the first of the calendar year. You can learn which of more than 150 countries have bought any of more than 3,000 U.S. products. By checking the FT410 over a period of three or four years, you can determine which countries have the largest and most consistent markets for specific products.2. International Economic Indicators. Quarterly reports providing basic data on the economy of the United States and seven other principal industrial countries. Statistics included are gross national product, industrial production, trade, prices, finance, and labor. This report measures changes in key competitive indicators and highlights economic prospects and recent trends in the eight countries. 3. Market Share Reports. An annual publication prepared from special computer runs shows U.S. participation in foreign markets for manufactured products during the last five-year period. The 88 reports in a country's series represent import values for the U.S. and eight other leading suppliers, and the U.S. percentage share for about 900 manufactured products. 4. International Marketing Information Series. Publications that focus on foreign market opportunities for U.S. suppliers. This series is designed to assemble, under a common format, a diverse group of publications and reports available to the U.S. business community. The following publications are made available on a continuing basis under this program:
5. Trade Opportunities Program (TOP). Overseas trade opportunities, private and government, are transmitted to the TOP computers through various American embassies and councils. U.S. business firms can indicate the product or products they wish to export and the types of opportunities desired (such as direct sales and representation) in countries of interest. The TOP computer matches the product interest of the foreign buyer's agent or distributor with the U.S. subscriber's interest. When a match occurs, a trade opportunity notice is mailed to the U.S. business subscriber. 6. National Trade Data Bank (NTDB). The Commerce Department provides a number of the data sources mentioned previously plus others in their computerized information system in the National Trade Data Bank. The NTDB is a one-step source for export promotion and international trade data collected by 17 U.S. government agencies. Updated each month and released on the Internet, the NTDB enables the reader to access more than 100,000 trade-related documents. The NTDB contains the latest census data on U.S. imports and exports by commodity and country; the complete CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) World Factbook; current market research reports compiled by the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service; the complete Foreign Traders Index, which contains over 55,000 names and addresses of individuals and firms abroad that are interested in importing U.S. products; State Department country reports on economic policy and trade practices; the publications Export Yellow Pages, A Basic Guide to Exporting, and the National Trade Estimates Report on Foreign Trade Barriers; the Export Promotion Calendar; and many other data series. The NTDB is also available at over 900 federal depository libraries nationwide. In addition, the Department of Commerce provides a host of other information services. Besides the material available through the Department of Commerce, consultation and information are available from a variety of other U.S. agencies. For example, the Department of State, Bureau of the Census, and Department of Agriculture can provide valuable assistance in the form of services and information for an American business interested in international operations. C. Other Sources 1. Bibliographies
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