The Economic Development Division is here to assist your business in international trade. Whether you are just starting out or are looking to expand your existing operation we can connect you with valuable resources and keep you informed of important events. Click on the links below to learn more about international trade in St. Petersburg.
- Foreign Direct Investment Study - Tampa Bay Partnership 2011
- Survey of St. Petersburg Businesses for International Activity
- Enterprise Florida International Trade Leads (Free service)
- Foreign Trade Zone #193
- Useful International Links and Resources
- "Why Trade Matters" – U.S. Department of Commerce
- "Trade & Florida" – U.S. Department of Commerce
City of St. Petersburg Economic Development Division, in 2007, concluded a Survey of St. Petersburg Businesses on International Activity. The survey was mailed to more than 700 manufacturing and wholesaling businesses, with a 16% response rate. The purpose of the survey was to better understand the City's industry base and to discover ways to assist companies in increasing their market share through international trade.
The data collected from the survey is quite interesting when compared to the 2003 survey results. The findings indicate that there are tremendous opportunities for local businesses to expand their profit margins by engaging in international trade. The number of businesses that engage in international trade has grown from 34% in 2003 to a staggering 62% of businesses surveyed in 2007. The largest trading partner for local businesses is China, which has jumped from a mere 8.9% of trades in 2003 to five times that rate of 46.5% in 2007. The core challenges to businesses engaging in or continuing with international trade are: 1) the lack of finding and maintaining reliable international partnerships, 2) financial constraints and political instability.
According to recent international trade publications the strongest markets for building business relations includes Mexico and China. Enterprise Florida has several networking and lead referral outlets available to bridge the gap between Florida businesses and international trade partners. This service is FREE, to learn more visit them at www.eFlorida.com
We would like to thank all those who participated in the 2007 International Survey for their time and shared business insight. See links below for a list of all businesses that participated in the survey, as well as a complete overview is available on the surveyed data.
For more information on the survey, click here to view an overview (PDF)
Click here to view all information on participants (PDF)
Foreign Trade ZoneForeign Trade Zone #193
The Port of St. Petersburg is part of Foreign Trade Zone #193 (FTZ) and offers warehouse storage space. By using the FTZ, companies can save money by reducing or eliminating duties, quotas and excise taxes.
- No duties on or quota charges on re-exports.
- Customs duties and federal excise tax deferred on imports.
- In situations where zone manufacturing results in a finished product that has a lower duty rate than the rates on foreign inputs (inverted tariff), the finished products may be entered at the duty rate that applies to its condition as it leaves the zone -- subject to public interest considerations.
- Foreign goods and domestic goods held for export are exempt from state/local inventory taxes.
U.S. Department of Commerce Foreign Trade Zone web site
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Useful Links ResourcesUseful International Links and Resources
Transportation Links (Click Here)
Seaport, airport, rail and road links
U.S. Export Assistance Center – Local Office (Click Here)
Local help with exporting from the U.S. Department of Commerce
Export America Magazine Online (Click Here)
U.S. Department of Commerce official trade publication
U.S. Commercial Service(Click Here)
The Commercial Service is the global business solutions unit of the Department of Commerce
U.S. Commercial Service Platinum Key Service (Click Here)
The Platinum Key Service allows U.S. companies to take advantage of longer term, sustained and customized U.S. Commercial Service assistance on a range of issues
U.S. Commercial Service Gold Key Matching Service (Click Here)
The U.S. Commercial Service arranges business meetings with pre-screened contacts representatives, distributors, professional associations, government contacts, and/or licensing or joint venture partners for your company
www.export.gov - U.S. government's export portal containing market research, leads, partner information, shipping and documentation information, financing information and much more
www.buyusa.gov - Database containing thousands of potential suppliers and customers around the world
www.ita.doc.gov - U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration homepage
www.doc.gov - U.S. Department of Commerce homepage
www.BISNIS.doc.gov - The U.S. Department of Commerce's Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States serving Armenia , Azerbaijan , Belarus , Georgia , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyz Republic , Moldova , Russia , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , Ukraine , and Uzbekistan
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