When you think about shipping internationally there are probably a lot of things running through your head. How do I know what documents I need? What regulations do I need to follow? Am I doing this right? We get it – it can be daunting. Luckily, you have us to put your mind at ease. When you use our alliance service partner, FedEx, and follow these 5 simple steps for your international small package shipment, you won’t have to worry.

1. Research your destination country
Check out the country snapshots on fedex.com to find detailed shipping requirements and service availability for the country you’re shipping to. These snapshots provide a great summary that includes general clearance information, standards, and restrictions that could affect what you’re trying to ship.

2. Pick your service
There are several international shipping services to choose from with FedEx. Whether your shipment is time sensitive or you have more time, there is a service that’s right for you. The best way to determine which one you should use is to find your rates and transit times. When you put in your shipment information this tool provides you with a list of service options with their costs and delivery times.

3. Find and prepare your documents
Using the FedEx Global Trade Manager you can find and print copies of the documents that will have to accompany your international shipment. All you have to do is fill out some information about your shipment and about the product you are shipping. Once you enter that in, the results will show you exactly what documents you need to complete.

4. Prepare your shipment
Packing and preparing your shipment correctly is imperative when you’re shipping internationally. FedEx offers a number of packaging options as well as a how-to guide so you don’t have to worry about wasted costs or issues.

5. Ship and track
Once you’re ready to ship, you can schedule a pickup or drop it off at a nearby FedEx location. After that you can easily track the status of your shipment until it reaches its destination.

Through an association shipping program managed by PartnerShip, you can receive discounts on your international shipments with select FedEx^® services. PartnerShip works with over 120 major trade associations, across many industries, to provide their members with the money-saving tools to help them be successful. If you belong to an association we work with, take advantage of our free shipping benefits today and save on your international shipping. If you're not sure if you qualify for one of our FedEx small package shipping programs contact us and we'll find the solution that's right for you.

Sorting out all of the necessary steps for shipping internationally can be intimidating. Our small package alliance partner, FedEx, has the services and tools to simplify the international shipping process for small businesses.

FedEx Express International Services:
FedEx offers a variety of international service options to fit your delivery and budgetary needs:

• FedEx International Priority^® 
  Provides customs-cleared delivery typically in 1 to 3 business days to more than 220 countries and territories. You can import from more than 220 countries and territories too. 
• FedEx International Economy^®
  Provides cost-effective, customs-cleared delivery typically in 2 to 5 business days to more than 215 countries and territories. You get delivery in just 2 or 3 business days to Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. You can import from more than 100 countries and territories too. 
• FedEx^® International Next Flight
  The fastest-possible delivery to and from more than 220 countries and territories. Reach major cities in just hours depending on flight availability. It's available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 
• FedEx International First^®
  Reach many destinations in Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland as early as 9 a.m. in 2 business days. You can also take advantage of inbound delivery to select U.S. ZIP codes from more than 60 countries and Caribbean islands in just 1 or 2 business days by 8 or 8:30 a.m. 

FedEx Express International Shipping Tools:
Through the FedEx Global Trade Manager, you have several tools right at your fingertips to get everything ready for your international shipment:

• Find International Documents: Get help finding the necessary documents for your international shipment.  
• Estimate Duties and Taxes: Estimate the duties and taxes that will be levied against your international shipment. 
• Country Profiles: Get a snapshot of country information including demographics, business information and statistics. 
• Shipping Advisories: Get important regulatory information specific to your shipment. 
• Denied Party Screening: Identify individuals, companies, and other parties that have been denied international business transactions.
• Harmonized Code Search: Find the World Customs Organization (WCO) tariff classification for your product.

Through an association shipping program managed by PartnerShip, you can receive discounts on your international shipments with select FedEx services. PartnerShip works with over 120 major trade associations, across many industries, to provide their members with the money-saving tools to help them be successful. If you belong to an association we work with, take advantage of our free shipping benefits today and save on your international shipping. If you're not sure if you qualify for one of our FedEx small package shipping programs contact us and we'll find the solution that's right for you.

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Going global with your business is a great opportunity for growth. Whether you've already taken your business overseas or have just started to dip your toes in the international waters, simplifying your shipping is essential for keeping your business afloat. Here's what you need to know about shipping internationally:

Find your markets
When you're selecting your international markets, there are several factors to consider. You may start off by selecting markets where you have local distribution connections or markets that have signed free trade agreements with the U.S. You may also think about staying within markets with a common language to avoid any cultural or language barrier issues.

As you continue to expand it's also important to be aware of the requirements and restrictions you will encounter. Each country has different restrictions or prohibitions that affect what commodities are allowed to be important and exported.

Some countries also have standards you must adhere to. For example, China uses the China Compulsory Certification Mark (CCC), whereas European countries conform to the Conformite Europeenne (CE). Products not meeting the particular standards in these markets may be held up by customs and will be subject to other penalties. Make sure you are aware of these restrictions and standards to avoid any unwanted hassles down the road.

As a helpful tool for researching your markets, FedEx provides Country Profiles that can give you detailed information on import and export restrictions, trade group information, prohibitions, standards, and more.

Prepare your documents
There is a great deal of documentation involved with shipping and selling a product internationally. The U.S. government requires export documentation and each importing country will have different requirements for import documentation.

What documentation you have to submit with your shipment depends mostly on where you are shipping to and what you are shipping. The primary shipping document for most international shipments is the International Air Waybill (IAWB). Other documents you may need will vary. Some other common documents include the Commercial Invoice, Certificate of Origin, and Electronic Export Information (EEI).

To help you determine what international documents you will need to complete, check out the FedEx International Document Assistance page.

Ship your products
When you have selected your markets, completed the necessary paperwork, and are finally ready to ship, it's important to select the right service at a low cost. It's also important to remember that things like duties, taxes, port handling fees and other customs charges will affect your cost. Saving money on your international shipments with a reliable carrier can make a world of difference. 

FedEx offers a number of services to fit all of your international shipping needs. Through an association shipping program, managed by PartnerShip, you can receive discounts on your international shipments with select FedEx services. PartnerShip works with over a hundred major trade associations, across many industries to provide their members with the money-saving tools to help them be successful. If you belong to an association we work with, take advantage of our free shipping benefits today - and save on your international shipping. If you're not sure if you qualify for one of our shipping programs contact us and we'll find the solution that's right for you.