International trade with South America provides the United States and other countries with a number of valuable resources and products, ranging from oil to agricultural produce. South American international trading is highly regulated in some South American countries, but trade agreements with others keep imports and exports open to U.S. businesses and consumers.

If you're interested in globalizing your business through international trade with South America, there are a number of avenues to make that possible. Lead investigators and advocacy groups for opening trade further encompass the main ways for businesses to get involved with international trade promotion in South America.

If you're interested in international trade in South America, look into the following:

1. Learn about existing trade agreements with South American countries.

2. Find out what advocacy efforts are accomplishing for trade with South American countries.

3. Use import/export networks to form your own business-to-business connections in South America.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get the specifications on existing international trade promotion in South America

American trade regulations and agreements are publicized online and available to a wide audience. If you're interested in international trade in South America, these published documents provide valuable information about the existing parameters of trade. When gathering any kind of political data on South America, international trade is an important aspect of the larger country profile.

I recommend: Use CalChamber (the California Chamber of Commerce) to get outlines of existing trade agreements. TradeAgreements.gov is a government website produced by interagency collaboration as a public service and provides comprehensive overviews of South American international trading by country.

Get involved with current events and advocacy for international trade promotion in South America

Because of the regulations governing trade with some South American countries, a number of advocacy groups exist for businesses who want more South American trade promotion. As a businessperson, you can join business advocacy groups and attend events geared to promote South American international trade.

I recommend: Find out about events and join the Latin America Trade Coalition to take a more active role in Latin American trade promotion. You can also learn more about international trade promotion between South American countries from Mercosur, the South American Common Market, a customs union formed in 1995.

Form global relationships for South American international trading

Because much of South America is open for trade with the United State, U.S. companies can get involved fairly easily with business networking sites. To promote fair international trade with South America in your business, do business with certified fair trade companies or visit their sites for more information on how you can promote fair international trade.

I recommend: Free Trade Front offers a search of free trade companies by region and industry. Other free trade sites for South American international trading include A Greater Gift and Inca Kids, which market fair trade goods.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get updated on South American international trading information regularly. Political and economic situations heavily influence international trade promotion in South America and may change trade agreements with individual countries or the specific products regulated.