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Major Web Sites
- State Department
Assists President in formulation of U.S. foreign policy. Issues a variety of materials on foreign policy, foreign travel, foreign countries, and foreign business information.
- Office of the U. S. Trade Representative
Leads U.S. negotiating efforts in matters of international trade. Issues annual studies of status of international trade agreements and assessments of foreign country trade practices.
- International Trade Administration
Commerce Department agency which is responsibile for compiling foreign trade statistics and promoting U.S. nonagricultural exports.
- International Trade Commission
Investigates conditions relating to competition of foreign industries with those of the U.S. Issues reports on the relative competitiveness of U.S. industries.
- U.S. Agency for International Development
An independent agency which administers U.S. programs of economic and humanitarian assistance to developing countries.
Country Information and Statistics
- Background Notes
Brief pamphlets on history, government, people, economy and geography of countries of world
- Country Profiles
Brief, summarized information on a country’s historical background, geography, society, economy, transportation and telecommunications, government and politics, and national security. Prepared as stand-alone reference aids related to the longer Country Studies.
- Country Studies
In-depth studies of the historical, political, economic, social, and military institutions of approximately 100 countries. From the Library of Congress.
- Foreign Government Resources on the Web
Offers links to foreign governments by region and related foreign information such as treaties, constitution, and embassies. From the University of Michigan
- Foreign Information by Country: Country Guides
Brings together a lengthy collection of information on foreign countries from various sources including the U.S. government, international organizations, and private sources. Some subscription sources may not be available to outsiders. Check Swem database list for such titles. From the University of Colorado Libraries Government Information Department.
- Global Gateway: World Culture and Resources
Includes links to the Country Studies reports, other international guides, fellowships for international studies, and "Portals to the World." The latter section provides links to resources of various countries including executive and legislative sources online.
- International Information Programs
Information about world events and issues from the State Department perspective via the agency formerly known as the U.S. Information Agency. Organizes information by regions.
- International Investment Programs: 2007
Descriptions of the investment conditions and environments in the countries of the world. From the State Department.
- Lingnet: The Global Language Network
Offers "Countries in Perspective" accounts of history, politics, and economies of selected countries, and "Online Language Courses." From the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center.
- OECD Factbook: Economic, Environmental, and Social Statistics
Offers more than 100 indicators in a variety of socio-economic areas for member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Also covers selected nonmember economies.
- OECD Country Information
Offers information by topic and chronology and 100 key statistical indicators for each OECD member country, including demographic, economic, education, environment, science and technology, and quality of life data.
- Portals to the World: Selected Internet Resources
Offers a list of the world's countries and links for each country selected by Library of Congress subject specialists. Categories of coverage include directories, history, government and law, literature and culture, news and current events, business and residential. From the Library of Congress.
- Post Reports
Brief reports written for employees and families assigned to diplomatic missions. Cover living, housing, and health conditions, as well as recreational, cultural, and employment opportunities for family members in the host country. Also provide an overview of the history, geography, demography, and political organization of the country.
- World Development Indicators Online
Offers more than 550 demographic, social, economic, and environmental indicators from 1960 to date for more than 200 countries. For William and Mary community and other subscribers. From the World Bank.
- World Factbook
Short listing of facts about the countries of the world with sections on the government, economy, military, geography, and people. "Field" feature allows user to select one of the section names and retrieve quick comparative data for all countries.
Government News Services
- RFE/RL Newsline
Daily report of news developments in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. From Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.
- State Department Daily Press Briefings
Complete text of daily press conferences with State Department officials
- VOA News
Online version of the news broadcasts of the Voice of America. Features versions for seven regions of the world.
- World News Connection
Daily reports from the world's newspapers and radio broadcasts. William and Mary Community and other subscribers.
Foreign Affairs Periodicals
- Dispatch
Major speeches and congressional testimony of department officials. Also includes information on treaty actions.
- State Magazine
News about developments that affect State Department operations and employees.
- Visa Bulletin
Monthly issues with data and information on programs for immigration into the U.S.
Directories
Diplomacy
Treaties
- Treaties in Force
A list of current bilateral and multilateral treaties to which the U.S. is a party.
- Treaty Actions
Covers treaty actions, bilateral and multilateral, of countries and trade organizations with the U.S. on an annual basis. From the State Department
- Multilateral Treaties for Which the U.S. is Depositary.
Access to over 200 treaties, organized by broad topic, deposited with the State Department.
- Multilaterals Project
Combines access to full text of selected multilateral treaties by topic area such as "Trade and Commercial Relations" and "Human Rights" with Treaty Research Resources. From the Fletcher School's Ginn Library of Tufts University
- Treaties Between the United States and Native Americans
Full text access to a collection of 18th and 19th century treaties. From the Avalon Project at Yale Law School.
Arms Control
Intelligence
- Central Intelligence Agency
Collects and evaluates information on political, military, economic and other issues related to national security.
- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
A collection of materials on the controversial act which governs surveillance of suspected terrorist organizations via warrants issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. From the Federation of American Scientists.
- Languages of the World
Provides information about the language families of the world, including their history, status, linguistic characteristics, writing version, and other resources. From the National Virtual Translation Center of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
- National Intelligence Strategy of the United States
Outlines process of transforming U.S. intelligence through leadership of the Director of National Intelligence following legislation passed in 2004.
Terrorism
- Foreign Terrorist Organizations
List maintained by the U.S. Department of State which lists the names of over 30 terrorist organizations and also covers the process of identification, legal criteria for designation and legal ramifications of designation. No description of the groups is included.
- Patterns of Global Terrorism
Annual report to Congress on incidents of terrorism involving citizens or territories of two or more countries. Includes chronology of terrorist incidents and statistics for year. Ends with 2003 issue.
- Country Reports on Terrorism
Replaces Patterns of Global Terrorism. Annual State Department surveys of countries in which acts of terrorism occurred, countries which are considered state sponsors of terrorism, and terrorist groups. Includes statistical section on number of terrorist acts, location and date with number of U.S. citizens killed, injured, and/or kidnapped, prepared by National Counterterrorism Center.
- Response to Terrorism
Information page maintained by State Department with links to major reports and policy statements.
Foreign Aid/Economic Development
Foreign Exchange Rates
Trade Guides and Periodicals
- Export.Gov: U.S. Government Export Portal
Basic information and press releases about exporting. Includes links to more detailed information such as trade statistics, other "export channels" and export reference materials. A joint product of 12 trade-related federal agencies and offices.
- Export America
Monthly issues with information about trade opportunities, trade events, advice, and trade statistics. From the International Trade Administration.
- Industry, Trade, and Technology Review
Articles on trade issues facing the U.S., on the competitive position of U.S. industries, and on the implications of trade policy developments. From the International Trade Commission.
- International Economic Review
Bimonthly publication which informs ITC staff and others about significant developments in international economics and trade. From the International Trade Commission.
Trade Statistics
- STAT-USA
A collection of databases on U.S. economic data, foreign trade and trade opportunities. For William and Mary community and other subscribers.
- Foreign Trade Highlights
Data on commodities and services involved in U.S. foreign trade. Covers patterns of trade, quantity and value, with other countries and trade regions. From the International Trade Administration.
- Guide to Foreign Trade Statistics
Describes the history, structure, and report formats of the U.S. trade statistics program. From the Census Bureau.
- Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S.
Offers tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the U.S. according to the international classification system for world trade. Also includes value of recent U.S. imports by source country and district of entry. Search "Interactive Tariff Database" by category number or product description.
- International Trade Commission Tariff and Trade DataWeb
Extensive data on U.S. exports and imports by region, country and commodity to ten digit level of detail. Also has data on U.S. tariff rates.
- Trade and Economy: Data and Analysis
Main site for trade statistics from International Trade Administration. Features impact of U.S. foreign trade on state and national economies.
- Tradeport
Not a government sponsored site but includes much information from federal government sources, including trade leads, events, regulations and research information.
- TradeStats Express
Data on U.S. imports, exports, and the trade balance. Also offers data on exports by states and regions. From the International Trade Administration.
- United States International Trade in Goods and Services
Offers summary and full release of monthly trade figures by commodity, and country.
- U.S. Tariff and Trade Data for a Specific Product 2005
Allows search of products by name or harmonized tariff system commodity code number. Entries contain HTS number, brief description of product, customs value of recent U.S. imports, and details of current tariff treatment.
- U.S. Trade Internet System
Data on U.S. exports and imports of agricultural, fishery, and forestry products. Allows user to select data by commodity name or code number, then select by country, region, or world, by time span, by value or quantity of commodity and more. From the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Trade-States
- State Export Data (Interactive)
Select State Export Data from Trade Stats Express page. Allows researchers to track general export levels from one state to foreign country markets, state-by-state exports to a selected foreign market, and exported state products to selected foreign markets. From the International Trade Administration.
- State Exports (Preformatted)
Provides pre-formatted tables on export totals for all 50 states to the world. From the International Trade Administration.
Unfair Trade Practices
Trade Markets
- Country Commercial Guides
Detailed information on economic and business climate of most countries of the world. From the Department of Commerce's Stat-USA web site. Available to William and Mary users and other subscribers.
- Country Commercial Guides
Detailed information on economic and business climate of most countries of the world. Also includes Market Research Reports and Best Market Reports. From the Market Research Library of the U.S. Commercial Service.
- International Regulation Database
Offers information about market regulations and the regulatory environment for the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Requires the downloading of the database by the user.
Trade Agreements
- GATT Digital Library: 1947-1994
Provides access to over 30,000 documents and 300 publications of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the international organization that promoted international commerce and reduced trade barriers prior to the formation of the World Trade Organization. From a partnership between Stanford University Libraries and the World Trade Organization.
- NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
Text and information on the main and side agreements plus other reports and publications. From the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
- Free Trade Area of the Americas
Joint effort by trade ministers of the 34 Western Hemisphere democracies to create a free trade area.
- Trade Agreements
Covers global, regional, and bilateral trade agreements of the U.S. From the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
- World Trade Organization
The only global international organization that develops and enforces rules of trade between nations
Maps
- CIA Maps Online
The University of Texas Perry-Castaneda Library Online collection includes digitized versions of the Central Intelligence Agency maps of countries of the world.
Miscellaneous