Background
Britain's
American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were
recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following
the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
During
the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original
13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and
acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic
experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and
the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I
and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's
most powerful nation-state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low
unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
Holidays
Jan 1 - New Year's Day
Jan 18 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb - Ash Wednesday
Feb 12 - Lincoln's Birthday
Feb 14 - Valentines Day
Feb 19 - Washington's Birthday or Washington / Lincoln Day
Mar 17 - St. Patrick's Day
Mar / Apr - Palm Sunday
Mar / Apr - Good Friday
Mar / Apr - Easter
May - Memorial Day
May - Mother's Day
Jun - Father's Day
Jun 14 - Flag Day
Jul 4 - Independence Day
Sep - Labor Day, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur
Oct - Columbus Day
Oct 31 - Halloween
Nov - Election Day
Nov 11 - Veteran's Day
Nov 25 - Thanksgiving Day
Dec 8-9 - Hanukkah
Dec 25 - Christmas
Phone Codes
Country Code: 1
Outgoing International Code: 011
Resources
WTCSD Partners
City of San Diego
County of San Diego
San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
Stand Out International
Ports of Call
Port of Los Angeles
Port of Long Beach
The
Port of Long Beach is a major economic engine for the region, a major
gateway to the world for Southern Californians 17 million residents and
for manufacturers and consumers across the continental United States.
Port of San Francisco
Port of San Diego
International Employment Opportunities
Monster - United States
Employment in the United States.
Hot Jobs - America
US Job Listings
Tariff Schedules
Schedule B/Export Codes
Schedule B commodity codes are 10-digit numeric codes used to identify products that are exported to other countries.
U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule, from the International Trade Commission
The
HTSA provides the applicable tariff rates and statistical categories
for all merchandise imported into the United States; it is based on the
international Harmonized System.
Shipping Forms
NAFTA Certificate of Origin Interactive Tool
Now Available on the Internet: NAFTA Certificate of Origin. Exporters can complete the form online.
Commercial Invoice
A
commercial invoice is a bill for the goods from the seller to the
buyer. These invoices are often used by governments to determine the
true value of goods when assessing custom duties.
Shipper's Letter of Instructions
The
Shipper's Letter of Instructions is a letter from the shipper
instructing the freight forwarder how and where to send the export
shipment.
Packing List
A
packing list itemizes the material in each individual package and
idicates the type of package, such as a box, crate, drum, or carton.
The list is used by the shipper or forwarding agent to determine the
total shipment weight and volume and whether the correct cargo is being
shipped.
NAFTA Certificate of Origin
The
NAFTA Certificate of Origin validates that a good originated in a NAFTA
country and is eligible for the preferential duty rate.
Shipper's Export Declaration
A
Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) is used to control exports and act
as a source documents for official U.S. export statistics.
General Certificate of Origin
A
document, required by foreign governments, declaring that goods in a
particular international shipment are of a certain origin.
ATA Carnet
A
Carnet is a document that facilitates the temporary importation of
products into foreign countries by eliminating tariffs and value-added
taxes (VAT) or the posting of a security deposit normally required at
the time of importation. Visit this website to learn about
qualifications.
Security and International Trade
Ready.gov
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Trade Education
Grossmont College: Customs Broker License Exam Preparation
Prepare
for the Customs Broker License Exam in six Saturday classes at
Grossmont College. The classes, led by an experienced customs broker,
offers realistic practice exams and test-taking techniques. Obtain a
Certificate in Import & Export Management by completing this series
of courses. The program is designed for individuals to obtain a broad
comprehensive foundation of the knowledge and skills necessary to work
in a variety of industry sectors and functions in international trade.
The participant will receive a Certificate upon the successful
completion of the entire series.
Cal State Long Beach: Global Logistics Specialist Program
Global
logistics professionals are in high demand in today's economy.
Companies are focusing on global logistics as a crucial part of their
business, looking for professionals who understand the process. These
skills can not be learned on the job. Organizations with knowledgeable
professionals in global logistics have a competitive advantage over
their competition.
World
Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) is joining forces with the Center for
International Trade and Transport (CITT) and California State
University, Long Beach (CSULB) to advance an educational Online Global
Logistics Specialist (GLS) professional designation program.
The
online program is designed for logistics professionals as well as
importers, exporters, and shippers, fright forwarders, logistic
executives, custom brokers, traffic managers, strategic planners in the
transportation industry, warehouse and distribution professionals,
customer service managers and merchant officers. It will enhance the
knowledge and marketability of international professionals and their
organizations and help them to remain competitive and globally
integrated. Modules are designed to provide an understanding of supply
chain operations; shipping freight both domestically and
internationally; building a logistics plan and supply chain
interconnections. Additionally, the modules will provide foresight into
the trends and future of international logistics. They can be taken in
any order, as needed by the professional and all of the modules are
taught by industry leaders in their fields of expertise.
This
online designation program consists of five modules and a Capstone
Project. The eight month program begins January 11, 2006 with each
module varying in price.
For more information, please check out their online information at GLS Online
CSU San Marcos, Certificate in Global Commerce
In
response to this growth in the international arena, the California
State University San Marcos Extended Studies is offering a certificate
program in international business. This program provides an invaluable
opportunity for both large and small companies to upgrade their
employees' knowledge and skills in convenient format and with an
affordable investment.
University of San Diego, Global Strategy and Management Certificate Program
The
Ahlers Center for International Business at the University of San
Diego, in collaboration with the San Diego World Trade Center, invite
you to participate in the Certificate Program in Global Strategy and
Management (GSM). If you or an associate are a business owner, manager,
analyst, consultant, or are involved in any aspect of global commerce,
this Certificate Program is designed for you, the working professional.
The GSM program will provide you with state of the art information and
application techniques, which will enable you to excel in the
international arena. Class size is kept intimate to encourage
participant discussion of current issues affecting global business
practices. A certificate of completion is presented to the GSM
participant after finishing each seminar. Moreover, a Certificate in
Global Strategy and Management is awarded upon completion of the full
program. The program includes four core seminars: Global Marketing,
International Finance, Global Supply Chain Management, and Global
Business Strategy; plus two elective seminars of choice. This
innovative program facilitates the completion of each seminar in just
three weeks. In addition, the GSM Certificate Program can be
accomplished in roughly seven months. Core and elective seminars may be
taken in any order enabling you, the participant, to comfortably
integrate this learning opportunity with other aspects of your busy
life. Contact gsm@sandiego.edu for more details.
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