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 about the Ex-Im Bank, USA

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is an independent U.S. Government agency that helps finance the overseas sales of U.S. goods and services.

• Ex-Im Bank provides a level playing field for U.S. exporters by countering the export credit subsidies of other governments.
• Ex-im Bank also provides financing to creditworthy private and sovereign foreign buyers when private financing is unavailable. To qualify for Ex-Im Bank support, the product or service must have at least 50 percent U.S. content and must not affect the U.S. economy adversely.
• Ex-Im Bank supports the sales of U.S. exports worldwide. In recent years, its focus has shifted to the developing nations whose economies are growing at twice the rate of the industrial nations.  top
• Ex-Im Bank will finance the export of all types of goods or services, including commodities, as long as they are not military-related (certain exceptions exist). Two of its major goals are to increase the export of environmental goods and services, which are in strong demand among the developing nations, and to expand the number of U.S. small businesses using Ex-Im Bank programs.
• Ex-Im Bank as a government agency operates under certain mandates, restrictions and requirements placed upon it by legislation and executive order. Major factors affecting Ex-Im Bank's participation in a transaction include consideration of the following:
  • U.S. Content
    Ex-Im Bank's mission is to support U.S. jobs through exports. Accordingly, there are foreign content eligibility criteria and limitations on the level of foreign content that may be included in Ex-Im Bank’s financing package.The total level of support for a supply contract will be the lesser of:
    • 85% of the value of all eligible goods and services in the U.S. supply contract; or
    • 100% of the U.S. content in all eligible goods and services in the U.S. supply contract.
    Note: To be eligible for Ex-Im Bank financing, goods and services in a U.S. supply contract must be shipped from the United States to a foreign buyer.  top
  • Small Business
    Ex-Im Bank is mandated to 'set aside' 10 percent of its business for small businesses. The Bank accomplishes this in a variety of means including special small business programs.
  • Environmental Impact
    Ex-Im Bank has a long history of environmental consideration. In the early 70's Ex-Im Bank reviewed the environmental impact of only large transactions. Today, almost all programs have some environmental considerations and enhancements.
  • Ex-Im Bank MARAD Requirements: (Public Resolution 17)
    For all direct loans & long-term guarantees, items must be shipped on U.S. bottoms, if not, they are ineligible for Ex-Im Bank support. A waiver from MARAD may be obtained.
    Three Waiver Types:
    1. General Waiver: up to 50% may be shipped on non-U.S. vessels.
    2. Hardship Waiver: If no U.S. vessels are scheduled for destination.
    3. Country Waiver: Brazil; applies to eligibility of shipping costs not towards general waiver provision.
  • Service Sector
    Ex-Im Bank treats services in an equal manner with commodities and manufactured goods. Several programs have been established to support the services industries including the Engineering Multiplier Program.
  • Military Restriction
    Ex-Im Bank is prohibited from financing military items. Ex-Im Bank will finance the export of any type of good or service, including commodities, as long as they are not militarily-related (certain exceptions exist).
  • Competitiveness
    Ex-Im Bank is mandated to be 'competitive' with other export-finance agencies throughout the world.Ex-Im Bank is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or (OECD). The OECD consists of a group of 24 nations represented by their treasury and export finance organizations to promote commonality of financing terms. Agreements, policies and resolution procedures have been promulgated in the following areas:
    1. Cash Payment
    2. Repayment Terms
    3. Local Costs
    4. Tied Aid
    5. Interest Rates
    6. Fees
  • Economic Impact
    Ex-Im Bank must take the competitive position of U.S. industry into account in evaluating its transactions and must not support transactions which would be considered detrimental to the U.S. economy.
  • Used Equipment
    Ex-Im Bank will finance used equipment which has been refurbished or reconstructed in the U.S. subject to:
    • Used Equipment Questionnaire is filled out;
    • Item cannot have been previously exported;
    • Usually Ex-Im support for shorter term
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• The Export Credit Insurance program helps U.S. exporters develop and expand their overseas sales by protecting them against loss should a foreign buyer or other foreign debtor default for political or commercial reasons.
  To encourage the export of U.S. goods and services, Ex-Im Bank has tailored its policies to meet the insurance needs of exporters and financial institutions. For example, insurance policies may apply to shipments to one buyer or to many buyers, insure comprehensive (commercial and political) credit risks or only specific political risks, or cover short-term as well as medium-term sales. Three policies, the Small Business Policy, the Small Business Environmental Policy and the Umbrella Policy, are geared specifically to small businesses just beginning their export sales program. Eligibility criteria differ for each type of policy.

Links ECA's:
CESCE COFACE COSEC DUCROIRE EKF ECGD EDC EKN ERG EXIM EXPORTERS FINNVERA GERLING-NCM GIEK HERMES HKECIC JBIC KEIC MIGA OeKB SACE