Article

Expand Your Reach: Go Global with the U.S. Commercial Service

factory equipment

May 29, 2025

Jerry Yu, president of engineering for SDMC America Technology, Inc., was looking to grow his exports by entering the Mexican market. Based in River Falls, Wisconsin, his company manufactures products and systems incorporating advanced hydraulic technology for wastewater treatment, robotics, construction, and automation. How could he export SDMC’s products and systems to Mexico? The answer: with the assistance of the U.S. Commercial Service. Mr. Yu tapped the U.S. Commercial Service offices of Milwaukee and Mexico City for help, and working together, he was introduced to potential Mexican partners. The result? A new sales agreement signed for Mexico. 

Working with the U.S. Commercial Service can make all the difference. Here’s what Mr. Yu notes: “As a newcomer to the Mexican market and with SDMC’s international expansion strategy, the Commercial Service far exceeded our expectations, allowing us to connect with key players swiftly and seamlessly in Mexico’s environmental sector without barriers. This saved us significant time and expenses that would have otherwise been spent on market research and due diligence—and most importantly, helped us build immediate trust with our representative company in Mexico. We cannot envision our future success in Mexico without the invaluable support of the Commercial Service.”

Exporting is Good for Business 

Still, for every exporter like SDMC America Technology, there are many businesses—particularly small- and medium-sized firms—that are missing sales because they aren’t exporting proactively. Often, it’s because they believe exporting is too burdensome or their business is too small, or they may be unaware of the resources available to help. Companies should consider the following powerful reasons to be optimistic about growing their international sales:

  • The United States is known worldwide for high-quality, innovative goods and services, customer service, and sound business practices. 

  • A business that has a good track record of selling in the United States—one of the world’s most open and competitive markets—is also likely a good candidate for selling internationally. 

  • Exporting can help businesses weather changes and smooth business cycles, helping them to become more competitive. 

  • Through eCommerce, businesses can find a robust channel for expanding international sales through digital strategies and a globalized web presence. 

U.S. Commercial Service: Helping Exporters Succeed 

Many successful exporters like Mr. Yu with SDMC are taking advantage of export resources through the U.S. Commercial Service and its federal and state partners. As the trade promotion unit of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, the U.S. Commercial Service’s global network helps U.S. companies export. In fiscal year 2024, our trade experts facilitated $109 billion in U.S. export sales, directly assisting 33,000 U.S. businesses, 81 percent of which were small- and medium-sized companies. Altogether, these exports support hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. 

Our trade experts help U.S. companies through export counseling and numerous customized services, many of which are available virtually:

  • Working one-on-one with businesses to develop global marketing plans, identify high-potential target markets, create effective entry strategies, and support U.S. government advocacy efforts on behalf of businesses. 

  • Introducing U.S. companies to potential foreign buyers and providing information and referrals to other U.S. government agency resources to help our clients successfully pursue foreign deals and partnerships. 

  • Arranging webinars, seminars, and trade events and missions designed to provide U.S. exporters with actionable on-the-ground intelligence and the networks they need to help them succeed globally.
     

Supplementing the one-on-one support provided by our global network of trade experts is our online menu of digital resources to help newer exporters become export ready and more advanced exporters take the next step. 

Ready to get started or grow your export sales? Contact the U.S. Commercial Service today!