Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) applauded President Obama’s signing of an Executive Order that will improve the export/import processes for America’s small businesses by requiring completion of the International Trade Data System (ITDS) by December 2016. Once completed, the ITDS will reduce approval and processing times for U.S. small businesses seeking to import and export goods from days to minutes.
Currently, California business must submit paper forms to a multitude of government agencies and wait days for processing and approval before moving goods across the border or through our ports. Once ITDS is fully implemented, it will reduce the time and expense for businesses and will help facilitate the moving of 50 million containers and $3.8 trillion worth of goods that cross American borders each year.
“I applaud this pro-small business export/import initiative, which will allow small businesses in Ventura County to more easily export American-made products to foreign markets,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Not only will the ITDS help small businesses cut through burdensome bureaucratic red tape, it will help create jobs here at home that will continue to fuel our local economic recovery.”
“As a critical hub supporting our nation’s trade corridors and export activity, we strongly support increased efficiencies in supply chain logistics,” said Kristin Decas, CEO & Executive Director of the Port of Hueneme. “We appreciate the export initiatives of the Obama Administration and the support of Congresswoman Brownley to increase our global competitiveness, efforts that promise to create jobs and bring economic prosperity to our region.”
American businesses that need help accessing foreign markets and doing business abroad can find resources online at business.usa.gov or export.gov. Ventura County companies can also contact the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Ventura, California, which offers trade counseling, market intelligence, business matchmaking, and commercial diplomacy that will help Ventura County entrepreneurs connect with lucrative business opportunities abroad.