Grow Minnesota!’s Guide to exporting and trade

A report from Grow Minnesota!

View report

Quick Menu

 

 

export

What can it do for your business?

Minnesota has a legacy of building and growing businesses here that keep the economy strong and provide a quality of life for our communities. Minnesota exports represent nearly 10% of Minnesota’s GDP. Trade is also a growth opportunity for individual firms. Research from the Institute for International Economics shows that exporters achieved higher average sales than non-exporters and were 8.5% less likely to go out of business.

There is a wide range of available resources to help Minnesota companies of all sizes export their goods and services around the world. Grow Minnesota!’s Guide to Exporting and Trade breaks down the available resources Minnesota companies can access to plan, finance and implement their exporting strategies. Grow Minnesota! is the Minnesota Chamber’s premier economic development program focused on retaining and growing Minnesota businesses. Our staff help businesses overcome challenges, make new connections and grow — in any part of the state. The team meets with businesses around the state to discuss plans or walk through resources.

When you meet with the Grow Minnesota! team for export assistance, we will:

  • Walk you through the resources in this guide.
  • Determine what resources fit your business.
  • Introduce you to next steps and connect you with the right people to get started.

If you would like one-on-one assistance, please contact the Grow Minnesota! team at growminnesota@mnchamber.com or 651-292-4650.


 

 

 

Back to top

 

export agencies

Both the state and federal government
have agencies tasked with supporting
U.S. exporting efforts and the
businesses behind them.

Minnesota Trade Office
The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) helps turn opportunities into profits in foreign markets by providing the training and expertise that small and midsized companies need to export goods and services successfully worldwide. The Minnesota Trade Office’s regional trade managers guide companies through the challenges of conducting international business, organizing trade missions and more.

U.S. Commercial Service 
The U.S. Commercial Service is the lead trade promotion agency of the U.S. Government. Commercial Service trade professionals are in over 100 U.S. cities, including Minneapolis, and more than 75 countries help companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets.

Export-Import Bank 
The Export–Import (EXIM) Bank of the United States is the official export credit agency of the United States federal government. They provide a number of insurance programs, loan guarantees and educational resources. EXIM provides export finance solutions to decrease risk and allow you to offer more favorable terms to foreign buyers.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of International Trade 
The SBA’s Office of International Trade works in cooperation with other federal agencies and public- and private-sector groups to encourage small business exports and to assist small businesses seeking to export. Through U.S. Export Assistance Centers, SBA district offices and a variety of service-provider partners, they direct and coordinate SBA’s ongoing export initiatives in an effort to encourage small businesses to go global.


Back to top

 

resource directory

Minnesota Trade Office
Find your regional or industry representative at https://mn.gov/deed/business/exporting/export-counseling/ or call 651.259.7498

U.S. Commercial Service 
Find your industry representative at https://www.trade.gov/minneapoliscontact-us or call 612.348-1638. Access educational resources at https://trade. gov/export-solutions.

Export-Import Bank 
Email Mariel Huasanga at mariel.huasanga@exim.gov or call 202.731.2752

SBA Office of International Trade 
Email Carlos Sosa at carlos.sosa@sba.gov or call 612.370.2324

Midwest Global Trade Association 
mgta.org or email admin@mgta.org

Global Minnesota 
globalminnesota.org, email info@globalminnesota.org, or call 612.625.1662

Minnesota District Export Council 
Their website is https://exportassistance.com/about/ and can be contacted at https://exportassistance.com/contact/

Foreign Consulates in Minnesota

  • Consulate General of Canada
  • Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
  • Red Lake Nation Embassy
  • Austria Honorary Consulate
  • Belgium Honorary Consulate
  • United Kingdom Honorary Consulate
  • Ecuador Consulate General
  • Germany Honorary Consulate
  • Hungary Honorary Consulate
  • Luxembourg Honorary Consulate
  • Mexico Consulate General
  • Norway Honorary Consulate
  • Romania Honorary Consulate
  • Sweden Honorary Consulate
  • Switzerland Consulate General
  • Business Accelerator Resource Network at Norway House
     

 

Back to top

 

minnesota trade office



Regional Trade Assistance

The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) provides export assistance to Minnesota businesses. MTO regional trade managers offer guidance at every stage of exporting including:

  • Export counseling for both new and experienced exporters
  • Technical, regulatory and logistic guidance
  • Market intelligence and research
  • Advice on conducting business across borders and cultures
  • Trade missions and country-specific trade shows, coordinated with consultants
  • Guidance on importing
  • Foreign trade zones
  • Office of Foreign Direct Investment for non-U.S. companies interested in expanding in Minnesota

Find a regional trade manager or view upcoming events:

Foreign Office Network
The Minnesota Trade Office’s global network of representatives provides in-market export assistance to Minnesota businesses in more than 130 countries. Minnesota companies may qualify for services, including foreign market evaluation, on-the-ground consultation and international partner searches. In addition to supporting Minnesota exporters, the network also helps attract international business investment and
expansion opportunities to the state. Contact a regional trade manager to get connected.

STEP Grant 

Eligible small businesses may be reimbursed for up to 50% of approved export-related expenses. Reimbursement is capped at $500 for export training that leads to the development of an export strategy and up to $7,500 for approved export development activities.

Under the STEP Grant, project examples include participation in trade missions, Gold Key and other business matchmaking services,
translating marketing materials or obtaining product testing or certifications required to sell in foreign markets. All activities must
receive prior approval, and businesses are responsible for providing a 50% cost match.

Apply or learn more: mn.gov/deed/business/exporting/exportfinancing/

 

Back to top

export import bank

The Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of the United States is the official export credit
agency of the U.S. federal government. EXIM helps U.S. exporters reduce risks
and offer competitive terms to foreign buyers through export credit insurance,
working capital loan guarantees and trade finance guidance.


Export Credit Insurance

Export Credit Insurance helps protect exporters if a foreign buyer fails to pay, covering up to 95% of eligible sales invoices. Coverage applies to a wide range of export-related goods, including consumer products, raw materials, commodities and spare parts.

Export Credit Insurance also helps exporters strengthen their business by reducing risk, improving access to financing and cash flow and increasing competitiveness in global markets. Coverage can be tailored to protect a single buyer, multiple buyers or an entire export portfolio.

For more information, go to exim.gov/solutions/export-credit-insurance

Working Capital Loan Guarantee

The EXIM Working Capital Loan Guarantee helps exporters secure financing by allowing EXIM to back up to 90% of a loan, giving lenders greater confidence to extend credit for international sales. This support enables exporters to borrow more using the same collateral while improving cash flow and increasing access to working capital needed to fulfill export orders and grow globally.

This can be used to purchase materials, equipment, supplies, labor and other inputs needed to fulfill export contracts or multiple sales, as well as to support bid, performance or payment guarantees.

  • Lower collateral requirements and faster access to credit from qualified lenders.
  • Able to support both single contracts and ongoing export operations.

For more information: exim.gov/solutions/working-capital

Emerging Exporter Business Development Team

The Emerging exporter business development team are specialists providing free, hands-on export finance support to businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and people with disabilities that are seeking to grow internationally.

Services include:

  • Guidance on export financing solutions
  • Connections to partner organizations and resources
  • Virtual or in-person training on international trade, export financing, global competitiveness and U.S. export opportunities.

For more information: https://www.exim.gov/community/emerging-exporter-business-division

 

ACTION STEPS

  • Meet with a technical assistance program or compliance consultant to review your export plan.
     
  • Schedule meetings with your tax advisor and banker to discuss the implications.
     
  • Finalize transportation methods and coordinate with a logistics company.

 

Back to top

 

us commercial service

The U.S. Commercial Service is the national trade promotion agency
dedicated to supporting businesses with offices in 100+ U.S. cities
(including Minneapolis) and 75+ countries. The Minneapolis team works
directly with Minnesota businesses to help them explore new markets
and grow international sales.

Industry Experts

Local International Trade Specialists offer free, one-on-one guidance on:

  • Finding and evaluating international partners
  • Developing market entry strategies and navigating export documentation requirements 
  • Connecting to business matchmaking services, trade events, export resources and market research tools 
  • Assessing your international web presence via the Website Globalization Review Gap Service - https://www.trade.gov/website-globalization-review-gap-analysis

Contact their office at Office.Minneapolis@trade.gov or 612.348.1638.
For more information: trade.gov/minnesota-minneapolis 

Gold Key Service

The Gold Key Service helps U.S. companies identify and meet with pre-screened international business partners in a target market.The service provides up to five matchmaking appointments with interested foreign firms and includes identifying potential partners, conducting outreach, preparing company profiles, arranging meetings and delivering a post-trip report with contact information and insights on participating firms. 

For more information: trade.gov/gold-key-service

International Partner Search

The International Partner Search provides a similar matchmaking service in a virtual format, helping companies connect with up to five potential agents, distributors or partners who have expressed interest in their products or services. This option reduces the need for travel and may also include virtual introductions via conference calls with selected contacts. 

For more information: trade.gov/international-partner-search

 

Back to top

 

sba office of international trade

Exporting can be expensive, from finding buyers to shipping costs.
There are federal loan and insurance options that decrease risk and
provide the necessary capital to grow. While most people think of
7(a) or 504 loans, the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) has
three loan programs designed to assist U.S. exporters.

Export Express

The Export Express program assists exporters in financing those costs incurred in expanding overseas sales

  • Eligible expenses include travel, marketing, plant expansion, equipment purchase, equipment enhancement, small working lines of credit and small capital expenditures.
  • Loan cap: $500,000 (90% SBA guarantee for $350,000 or less and a 75% SBA guarantee for loans more than $350,000)
  • Revolving lines of credit may not exceed 7 years 

Export Working Capital Program (EWCP)

 EWCP provides short-term financing to fulfill foreign purchase orders and support standby letters of credit.

  • Apply in advance of finalizing an export sale or contact for greater flexibility in negotiating payment terms
  • Can be used to issue standby letters of credit, bid bonds or performance bonds 
  • Typically, EWCP lines of credit are booked for a term of 12 months or less 
  • Loan cap: $5 million with 90% SBA guarantee: terms up to 36 months or less 

International Trade Loan (ITL) 

The International Trade Loan offers longer-term financing for equipment, facility expansion and permanent working capital to
support international growth 

  • Covers fixed assets, working capital and eligible debt refinancing
  • Used for loan terms over 12 months and up to 25 years 
  • Loan cap: $5 million with 90% SBA guarantee and repayment terms up to 25 years 

Application assistance can be found at https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/export-trade-assistance/us-export-assistance-centers

 

Back to top

 

ag specific export programs

Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)

The MDA helps equip Minnesota agricultural businesses with the tools for exporting success. Their staff help assess your export readiness, develop an export plan and assist with international marketing. For more information: mda.state.mn.us/international-marketing.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The USDA’s exporting support consists of two main programs and a series of foreign agricultural service offices around the world. The global offices will help facilitate relationships with potential foreign buyers, identify new market prospects and provide technical and financial assistance.

  • The Market Assistance Program helps finance activities to market and promote U.S. agricultural commodities and products worldwide.
  • The Export Credit Guarantee Program guarantees repayment when U.S. banks extend credit to foreign banks to finance sales of U.S. agricultural products.

To access assistance and apply for programs, go to fas.usda.gov/topics/exporting

 

Back to top

 

certificate or origin

A Certificate of Origin (CO or COO) is an important international trade document that certifies that goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained, produced, manufactured or processed in a particular country. They also serve as a declaration by the exporter. 

There’s no faster way to file a Certificate of Origin than digitally. The Minnesota Chamber is your partner in competing in a global market, using a global, electronic solution that replaces the manual process of submitting a Certificate of Origin by digitalizing the process via a secure, web-based platform.

For more information, go to https://www.mnchamber.com/your-opportunity/certificate-origin or contact serickson@mnchamber.com for more information.

Back to top

 

common export documents

Below is a list of commonly needed export documents and where to get them.
It is not all-encompassing, and other documents may be necessary.
If you have questions, reach out to the Grow Minnesota! team.

 
















 

Back to top

grow

How can we help your business?

Grow Minnesota! is the Minnesota Chamber’s premier economic development program focused on retaining and growing Minnesota businesses. Our staff helps businesses overcome challenges, make new connections and grow — in any part of the state. The team meets with businesses around the state to discuss plans or walk through resources.

If you would like one-on-one assistance with your business, please contact the Grow Minnesota! team at growminnesota@mnchamber.com or 651-292-4650.

Click here

Back to top