The US is the UK’s largest export market and is the leading destination for UK overseas investment. There are over 7,000 UK companies that have established offices in the United States.

WHAT CAN UK TRADE & INVESTMENT OFFER?
UK Trade & Investment is the UK Government organisation that supports UK businesses wishing to trade internationally as well as overseas businesses seeking to invest in the UK. Our services help UK companies make business decisions, based on our commercial expertise and unrivalled local access and knowledge. We can assist with the following:

• Targeted outward missions to the US and support at trade shows, with over 100 US events supported each year
• Tailor-made research and in-depth analysis on sectors in the US
• Industrial knowledge, business contacts and local knowledge of requirements and business practices
• Pipeline into US Government at federal, state and local levels

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Currently, the US operates a Visa Waiver Program, available to most British Citizen passport holders travelling on business, pleasure or transit from where they normally reside and who intend to stay in the US for less than 90 days. From 26 October 2004, all British passport holders, including children, travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Program will need their own machine-readable passports (MRPs).

From 26 October 2004, anyone without an MRP, including children who are currently on a parent’s passport, will need a visa to travel to the US. For further details on entry requirements for the US, check the US Embassy website at: www.usembassy.org

WORK PERMITS
UK companies are advised to seek up-to-date advice from a US immigration attorney before applying for a visa.

UK companies should select the business visa appropriate to their own and their employee’s needs. For example, some visas require annual renewal, while others can only be acquired for a limited number of years.

UK companies should also ensure that all employees who frequently visit the US in order to attend trade shows and other business meetings acquire the right type of business visa.

FORMING A COMPANY
When properly established and managed, a US trading company or subsidiary provides the following advantages for UK companies:

• Credibility with US customers
• Maximum control over how the brand name and image is established in the US
• Local contact with the US customers
• Good forecasting regarding production and delivery of products

For advice on specific options for UK businesses, please contact your local International Trade Team. International Trade Teams are based in Business Links and Chambers of Commerce across the UK and comprise International Trade Advisers from both the private and public sectors – many with practical experience of exporting successfully. To find details of local Business Link offices, please contact the Business Link hotline on 0845 600 9006.

The UK Trade & Investment International Trade Teams can help you tap into a wealth of information, advice and support to make the right decisions about export strategies.

COMPANY TAXATION
All goods entering the US are subject to duty on that goods’ dutiable value, unless specifically exempted by law. A goods’ dutiable value is determined in various ways. A goods’ duty varies according to its classification, and classification of the goods and the valuation is the responsibility of the importer. The US Customs Service will then determine the relevant duty. Goods cannot leave the port of entry until the duty has been determined (liquidation). After liquidation, importers have 90 days in which to appeal.

Reductions in the duty on goods, which have been imported from the US to the UK and then combined with UK goods, are available for the value of components manufactured in the US. HM Customs and Excise can help you locate your local Customs Advice Centre and your local Excise and Inland Customs Advice Centre, which is the first line of enquiry for anything from routine tariff classification advice down to the six digit Harmonised System subheading level, used worldwide. For more information, visit
www.hmce.gov.uk

The Customs Classification Helpline can also provide advice on tariff classification numbers.
The Helpline is open from 08:30-17:00, and a voicemail service is available outside these hours.
Tel: +44 (0) 1702 366 077.

The European Commission’s Market Access Database gives tariff information for many non-EU countries. The Applied Tariff Database section allows users to get a tariff rate by selecting a country and then searching the database by HS code or by product. The database also has an Exporter's Guide to Import Formalities. This database (searchable by HS code or by product), gives an overview of import procedures to a country, as well as any general and specific requirements for a product.

The Market Access Database can only be accessed with an ISP that is based in the EU. Visit: http://mkaccdb.eu.int/

SALES TAX
Sales tax is determined state by state. Some states have no sales taxes at all. To find out more on individual state sales taxes, visit the Federation of Tax Administrators website: www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/

ADDITIONAL TAXES
Many states impose an annual franchise tax on corporations incorporated in the state, registered with the Secretary of State and actually doing business in the state. Franchise taxes are usually based on the amount of the capital stock, but can also be calculated on bases such as gross receipt, net income and net worth.

Real estate and personal property are subject to taxes, whether or not the property is used in the business. Employees must pay unemployment taxes into a fund that provides compensation payments to the unemployed. The taxes are levied based on the “experience ratings” of the company’s employees. There is also a federal unemployment tax, which is reduced by the amount of tax paid to the state.

GRANTS AND ASSISTANCEUS
Marketing Scholarship Programme
UK Trade & Investment has been running the US Marketing Scholarship Programme for the past 10 years. The programme gives senior managers in UK SMEs the opportunity to learn more about marketing effectively in the US. They then spend time with a company to see how it is done. The programme offers the opportunity to attend a five-day course at the JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management in Illinois and then undertake a short business attachment to a US company. The course is sponsored principally by British businessman Ellis Goodman CBE, who is resident in Chicago. Other sponsors include British Airways and UK Trade & Investment. The sponsorship covers the fees for the residential course and return airfares.

Eligible companies are selected to take part in the programme via a competitive selection process. Places are awarded to those candidates and companies best placed to take advantage of this significant opportunity.

You can find out more about the programme, including closing dates for applications, by contacting: Khalid Khan, UK Trade & Investment, Bay 816 Kingsgate House, 66-74 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SW Tel: +44 (0) 20 7215 4928.E-mail: khalid.khan@uktradeinvest.gov.uk

OUTWARD MISSIONS
Outward missions provide an extensive framework of both practical and financial help for UK businesses travelling abroad as part of a group to markets outside Western Europe to promote UK goods and services. UK Trade & Investment supports approximately 3,500 companies every year through the outward mission scheme. Our events database provides a searchable list of all UK Trade & Investment events, including outward missions.

OVERSEAS MARKET INTRODUCTION SERVICE
The Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) will put you directly in touch with the staff in our overseas offices, who can provide you with focused business advice and visit support. This service is now available in all our markets overseas.

There are three levels of service, priced at £300, £600 and £1,200. These packages are built around the typical requirements of businesses making their first steps into a new overseas market. All provide a flexible blend of preparatory advice and research, and support when you visit the market.

Each business and each market is unique. Our overseas experts will propose a programme of support and advice at the level you have chosen. Our teams will help research markets for you, arrange appointments and guide you through the process of exporting to markets involved in the scheme. The aim is to support you with market information, potential contacts and, ultimately, guide you to successful completion of a visit to the market.



For more information,
contact UK Trade & Investment :
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7215 8000
Website: www.trade.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/usa