USA

 

Official Name - United States of America (US)
Capital City - Washington, D.C.
Type of Government - Federal Republic
Currency - Dollar ($) - USD
Fiscal Year - 1 October - 30 September
Official Language(s) - None at federal level; English de facto
Local Time - GMT -5 to GMT -8 (most states adopt daylight savings time in summer); Alaska is GMT -9 and Hawaii GMT -10
International Dialling Code - +1
Internet Domain - .us .gov .edu .mil .um
Major Industries - Leading Industrial Power in the world, Highly Diversified and Technologically Advanced, Petroleum, Steel, Motor Vehicles, Aerospace, Telecommunications, Chemicals, Electronics, Food Processing, Consumer Goods, Lumber, Mining
Major Trading Partners - Canada, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Japan
Double Taxation Treaty with India - YES

Economic Overview

  • Largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world.
  • Capitalistic, free market-oriented mixed economy where individuals and business firms make most of the decisions.
  • Service sector contributes most to the GDP.
  • The largest sector is service, which employs roughly three quarters of the work force.
  • The sub-sectors are financial services, travel, trade, government services and entertainment.
  • Regular increase in imports from the countries with a very low production cost.
  • Economic activity varies greatly across the country.
  • Fueled by an abundance in natural resources, such as coal, petroleum, and precious metals.
  • Top producer of corn, soy beans, rice and wheat.
  • Third largest tourist industry in the world.
  • Leading export of automobiles, airplanes, steel, and electronics.
Contacts of Trade Ministries/ Associations

Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Federal Trade Commission
Government of the United States
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Tel.: +(1)-(202)-4824883
E-mail: opaosec@doc.gov
Website: www.commerce.gov

 Department of Commerce
Government of the United States
E-mail: ita_webmaster@ita.doc.gov
Website: www.ita.doc.gov

 Government of the United States
Office of Policy and Evaluation
Room 394, Bureau of Competition
Washington, D.C. 20580
Tel.: +(1)-(202)-3263300
E-mail: antitrust@ftc.gov
Website: www.ftc.gov
United States Trade Representative
NAFTA Secretariat, U.S. Section
United States International Trade Commission
600 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20508
United States of America
E-mail: contactustr@ustr.gov
Website: www.ustr.gov

 Room 2061 14th Street and
Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
Tel.: +(1)-(202)-4825438
Fax.: +(1)-(202)-4820148
E-mail: usa@nafta-sec-alena.org
Website: www.nafta-sec-alena.org

 500 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20436
Tel.: +(1)-(202)-2052000
Website: www.usitc.gov
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
SUSTA: The Southern United States Trade Association
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc.
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20229
Tel.: +(1)-(202) 3541000
Website: www.customs.ustreas.gov		 2 Canal Street Suite 2515
New Orleans, LA 70130
Tel.: +(1)-(504)-5685986
Fax: +(1)-(504)-5686010
E-mail: susta@susta.org
Website: www.susta.org

 1200 18th Street, NW, #901
Washington, DC 20036
Tel.: +(1)-(202)-4660222
Fax: +(1)-(202)-4660226
Website: www.ncbfaa.org

Business Visa Rules
The documents required for Business Visa (B-1) are as follows:

  • Invitation letter from the US counterpart/Company with which you are going to conduct business.
  • Letter from your employer or company that is sending you to the U.S.
  • Exchanges of correspondence with U.S. purchasers, suppliers or contacts.
  • Recent contracts, bills of lading or other documentary evidence of recent imports and exports of purchases.
  • Any evidence of arrangements for lodging and appointments already made in the U.S. in preparation for your trip.
  • Incorporation documents and business license(s).
  • Tax statements for the last two years.
  • Bank transaction statements detailing all deposits and withdrawals for the last 6 months. Include your personal and company accounts, along with evidence that you haveauthority to draw on the company accounts.
  • Any copies of recent advertising brochures or publications.
Business Hours
  • Opening hours for shops, offices and banks vary from city to city and from state to state. In general, stores and shopping malls are usually open from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm from Monday to Saturday and on Sundays from midday until 5.00 pm.
  • 9.00 am to 5.00 pm - Offices (Monday to Friday)
  • 9.00 am to 3.00 pm - Banks (Monday to Friday and until lunch-time on Saturda