WHERE TO GET MARKET INFORMATION AND TRADE LEADS U.S. Department of Commerce/The Economic Bulletin Board (EBB): The EBB, a personal computer-based electronic bulletin board, is your on-line source for trade leads as well as for the latest statistical releases from the Bureau of the Census, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Reserve Board, and other federal agencies. Subscribers to the EBB pay an annual registration fee of $35, which allows two hours of free access to the system. For access information, contact EBB at (202) 377-1986. U.S. Department of Commerce/Trade Opportunities Program (TOP): TOP provides companies with current sales leads from international firms seeking to buy or represent U.S. products or services. TOP leads are printed daily in leading commercial newspapers, such as the Journal of Commerce and are also distributed electronically via the Economic Bulletin Board. The fee varies. Contact: Your nearest U.S. Department of Commerce district office or (202) 377-4767. U.S. Department of Commerce/World Traders Data Report (WTDR): A method for checking the reputation, reliability, and financial status of a prospective trading partner. For $100, an exporter can obtain this information, along with a recommendation from commercial officers at the U.S. Embassy as to the suitability of the company as a trading partner. Contact your local U.S. Department of Commerce district office or call (202) 377-4767. U.S. Department of Commerce/Business America (BA): The principal Commerce Department publication for presenting domestic and international business news. Each biweekly issue includes a "how to" article for new exporters; a discussion of U.S. trade policy; news of government actions that may affect trade; and a calendar of upcoming trade shows, exhibitions, fairs, and seminars. An annual subscription is $49. For information about BA, contact ITA's Office of Public Affairs at (202) 377-3251, or for ordering a subscription, contact the U.S. Government Printing Office at (202) 783-3238. U.S. Department of Commerce/Commercial News USA (CNUSA): A monthly magazine published by the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service to promote U.S. products and services to overseas markets, which is disseminated through 240 U.S. embassies and consular posts around the world. Selected portions are reprinted in newsletters that are tailored in content and language to the individual country and distributed to potential buyers, agents, American chambers of commerce abroad, and other multipliers. U.S. firms can have their products or services highlighted for a small fee. Contact your local U.S. Department of Commerce district office or call (202) 377-4918. U.S. Department of Commerce/Bureau of the Census/Center for International Research (CIR): CIR compiles and maintains up-to-date global demographic and social information for all countries in its International Data Base (IDB), which is accessible to U.S. companies seeking to identify potential markets overseas. The information on the IDB can be purchased for $175. Contact the Systems Analysis and Programming Staff at (301) 763-4811. U.S. Department of Agriculture/Economic Research Service (ERS): The ERS staff provides economic data, models, and research information about agricultural economies and policies of foreign countries and bilateral agricultural trade and development relations. The ERS maintains files on the production and marketing of major commodities, pricing data, use development and conservation of natural resources, and overseas performance of the U.S. agricultural industry. It also publishes regional agricultural and trade reports, commodity outlook circulars, and a variety of research publications on country specific issues. Contact Agriculture and Trade Analysis Division at (202) 219-0700. U.S. Department of Agriculture of Agriculture/Trade and Marketing Information Centers: These centers, part of the National Agriculture Library, help locate relevant material from their large collection on trade and marketing, and provide copies of research and data from their AGRICOLA database. Contact the Information Center Branch at (301) 344-3704. U.S. Department of Agriculture/Country Market Profiles: These profiles are country-specific 2-4 page descriptions of 40 overseas markets for high value agricultural products. They provide a market overview, market trends, information on the U.S. market position, the competition, and general labeling and licensing requirements. Contact the FAS Information Division at (202) 720- 7937. U.S. Department of Agriculture/AGExport Connections: The AgExport Action Kit provides information which can help put U.S. exporters in touch quickly and directly with foreign importers of food and agricultural products. Contact AgExport Connections Staff at (202) 720-7103. U.S. Department of Agriculture/Computerized Information Delivery Service (CIDS): CIDS provides instant access to USDA reports and news releases, making time-sensitive agricultural information available to any location within seconds of release. Among the information available, for a fee, through CIDS are trade leads, market reports, economic outlooks, and certain statistics. For more information, contact (202) 720-5505. U.S. Department of Labor/Foreign Labor Trends: These are a series of reports, issued annually, that describe and analyze labor trends in more than 70 foreign countries. The reports, which are prepared by the U.S. Embassy in each country, cover labor-management relations, trade unions, employment and unemployment, wages and working conditions, labor and government, international labor activities, and other significant developments. A list of key labor indicators is also included. Contact the Office of Foreign Relations at (202) 523-6257. U.S. Department of Energy/Coal and Technology Export Program: This program promotes the export of U.S. clean coal products and services by acting as an information source on coal and coal technologies. Contact the Office of Fossil Energy at (202) 586-7297. Small Business Administration/Export Information System (EIS): EIS data reports provide specific product information on the top 25 world markets and market growth trends for the past five years. Contact the Office of International Trade at (202) 205-7264.