In general, borrowers applying for an SBA International Trade Loan need to first be eligible for a standard SBA 7(a) loan. This means that they must be a U.S.-based, for-profit business, must have good credit and strong financials, and need to conform to the SBA size standards for their particular industry.

However, International Trade Loans must also specifically be used to “acquire, construct, renovate, modernize, improve or expand facilities and equipment to be used in the United States to produce goods or services involved in international trade.” Other eligible uses involve bringing back production facilities to the U.S. (i.e. repatriation), working capital financing, and refinancing any eligible business debt that is currently offered to the borrower on unreasonable terms.

Additionally, eligible borrowers must show that they are capable of expanding their business into current export markets, or alternatively, that they can develop new markets. SBA International Trade Loans are also available to businesses who can show they they have been hurt by international trade, and can effectively demonstrate that getting SBA financing can make them more competitive.

In general, businesses applying for an SBA International Trade Loan need to first be eligible for a standard SBA 7(a) loan. This means that they must be a U.S.-based, for-profit business, must have good credit and strong financials, and need to conform to the SBA size standards for their particular industry.

SBA International Trade Loans offer a number of benefits to eligible borrowers. These include loan amounts of up to $5 million, an SBA guaranty of 90%, and repayment terms of up to 25 years. Additionally, ITLs can be used to acquire, construct, renovate, modernize, improve or expand facilities and equipment to be used in the United States to produce goods or services involved in international trade. Other eligible uses involve bringing back production facilities to the U.S. (i.e. repatriation), working capital financing, and refinancing any eligible business debt that is currently offered to the borrower on unreasonable terms.

In comparison, Export Working Capital Loans offer loan amounts of up to $5 million, with an SBA guaranty of 90%, but have a maximum repayment term of 3 years. Export Express Loans, which are designed to be approved in as little as 24 hours, have a maximum loan amount of $500,000, an SBA guaranty of 75%, and the same repayment terms as ITLs.

The terms for SBA International Trade Loans are quite similar to the terms for standard SBA 7(a) loans, and include:

In general, borrowers applying for an SBA International Trade Loan need to first be eligible for a standard SBA 7(a) loan. This means that they must be a U.S.-based, for-profit business, must have good credit and strong financials, and need to conform to the SBA size standards for their particular industry.

However, International Trade Loans must also specifically be used to “acquire, construct, renovate, modernize, improve or expand facilities and equipment to be used in the United States to produce goods or services involved in international trade.” Other eligible uses involve bringing back production facilities to the U.S. (i.e. repatriation), working capital financing, and refinancing any eligible business debt that is currently offered to the borrower on unreasonable terms.

Additionally, eligible borrowers must show that they are capable of expanding their business into current export markets, or alternatively, that they can develop new markets. SBA International Trade Loans are also available to businesses who can show they they have been hurt by international trade, and can effectively demonstrate that getting SBA financing can make them more competitive.

You can apply for an SBA International Trade Loan by meeting the eligibility requirements for a standard SBA 7(a) loan. This means that you must be a U.S.-based, for-profit business, have good credit and strong financials, and conform to the SBA size standards for your particular industry. Additionally, you must show that you are capable of expanding your business into current export markets, or alternatively, that you can develop new markets. You must also use the loan proceeds to “acquire, construct, renovate, modernize, improve or expand facilities and equipment to be used in the U.S. to produce goods or services involved in international trade.”

You can find more information about the Export Express Loan program, which is a type of SBA International Trade Loan, here. To be eligible for this loan, you must have been in operation for at least 12 full months, the loan proceeds must allow the business to enter a new export market or expand an existing export market, and the proceeds must be used for an export development activity. Additionally, you must provide certification from the applicant’s domestic customer that the goods or services are in fact being exported, and the loan will not refinance an existing SBA-guaranteed loan.