International Buyer Rules Change

Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 6/20/2005

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced changes to its Intl. Buyers Program, which each year selects 28 tradeshows from a variety of business sectors and works with them to increase their international buyer attendance.

Shows have already been selected for the 2006 IBP, and the 60-day application period for the 2007 program is expected to begin in the last half of June, said Jim Boney, sector manager for the Commerce Department's Global Trade Programs.

Starting in 2007, the IBP will be based on the calendar year, rather than the fiscal year, as it is now. Consequently, the program will accept applications for shows taking place Oct. 1, 2006, to Dec. 31, 2007, as a means of transitioning to the new time period.

Also new for 2007, the program fee will increase from $8,000 to $9,000, for shows that last five days or less and have one international business center. Those shows of more than five days or with more than one international business center must pay $14,000.

Any show manager interested in applying for the program should contact Boney at jim.boney@mail.doc.gov.