Kendra Kuo, Director of the US Export Assistance Center Grand Rapids. Kendra and her organization assist US companies sell their goods and services into foreign markets. Their assistance falls into four areas: international market research, international matchmaking (finding local partners and customers), trade events and training, and advocacy and investment. The U.S. Commercial Service, part of the International Trade Administration, has 100 U.S. locations and a presence in 70 countries worldwide.Click below to listen to full interview with Kendra

Kendra’s office has received lots of inquiries from companies as they deal with new issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and surrounding disruptions to the supply chain. She suggests working closely with your freight forwarder, and reaching out to her (or one of her colleagues; Michigan offices are in Grand Rapids, Pontiac, and Detroit). Regulations are changing quickly, and the government’s trade specialists are best equipped to know current policy—in the U.S. as well as overseas. Other agencies that can be of assistance are the Small Business Administration, FEMA, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Procurement Site.

Companies interested in supporting the response to COVID-19 with goods and/or services can reach out to the DHS Procurement Action Innovative Response Team at DHSIndustryLiasion@hq.dhs.gov. Although some events have been postponed, companies can still take advantage of great virtual services that are offered on the website; locally, there is a webinar on the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA/the new NAFTA) taking place on May 7th. Looking forward to fall, Discover Global Markets, a U.S. Commercial Service signature event, will take place October 7-9 in Indianapolis. Local trade specialists can be found here on the staff directory by locating the state and city of your local office.