Trade Services

The Deputy Trade Attaché provided by the French Trade Commission allows the FACC to assist its members in establishing trade connections, organizing business visits, initiating contacts, developing lists of potential clients and offering specialized member referrals.

Through luncheons and other programs, the Chamber serves as a forum for members to discuss areas of mutual interest and to exchange ideas and information with guests from all sectors of the business world. Thus, the Chamber acts as an important liaison between the French and American business communities. The Chamber maintains links with French governmental representatives as well as other French cultural and exchange associations in the Northwest. The luncheon meetings, which are conducted in English, feature distinguished French or American speakers from both government and business sectors.

Do you participate in professional events in France but don’t know how you can claim your VAT refund?
Claim your VAT refund through the French Chamber of Commerce in your own country, it’s easy and fast!

On your behalf, the French Chambers of Commerce and Industry network can claim the VAT refund on your main expenses in Europe. VAT is refundable for the following expenses:

*Tradefairs, spacebooking, flowers, hostess services, translators, telephone bills, electricity bills... 
*Restaurants bills, foods and beverages
*Gasoil (80 % of the VAT are  refundable)
*All kind of furniture for business activities
*Commercial cars and vans rental
*Services such as: advertising...

(The VAT is not refundable on the following expenses: hotels, tourism car renting, airlines and trains tickets, taxi trips and presents). 

You just need to contact the French Chamber of Commerce based in your own country (data available on our web site: www.uccife.org). If there is not a French Chamber in your country, please contact UCCIFE directly.

In both cases we will ask you to provide us with the following documents:

1. Original of all invoices showing the refundable amount of the French VAT (renting of tradefair space, furniture, flowers, advertising, hostess services, telephone, electricity, food and beverages… (copies of invoices, even certified, will not be accepted)
2. A mandate we will send you to be signed, that allows us to ask for the VAT pay back on your behalf.
3. Should your company reside in one of the European Union countries, send us your intracommunity VAT number. Other companies located out of the European Union need to send us an official certificate showing that your company is a VAT payer in your country.
4. A Bank Account ID number enabling us to transfer you the VAT refund. Don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.

For more information please contact Laetitia Faure at trade@faccpnw.org or at 206 443 4703

• Research of trade partners

This service is threefold:
•  Brainstorming write-ups
• Approaching potential partners. On behalf of a French company, our services make a rigorous and personalized research of the market to select 3 to 4 potential partners (commercial agents, importers) whose profile matches the specific needs that we have chosen together
• Issuing a detailed report of each visit to be forwarded  along with recommendations on the final selection of a partner

• Research of industrial partners

This includes a service that concerns any research conducted on the premises. It finalizes the contacts with local companies who are willing to discuss a project of industrial cooperation. (Transfer of technology, joint venture, etc.)

• Research of targets for acquisitions

• Negotiations
• Audits

• Help for integration

• Establishment of banking relations (opening of accounts, etc.)
• Research of a credit line in the U.S.
• Research of a loan from a bank or of capital-risk
• Research of targets

In certain sectors of activity, it is extremely difficult to find trade agents or partners. Therefore the only way to approach the market is to directly explore the possibilities. The FACC offers services equivalent to those of a trade agent.

• Study of your business ready for set-up

• Setting goals for products and training during the launch meeting
• Exploration of the state of the market, which is a study on costs, judicial and legal aspects
• Augmentation of tools of trade development

• Mailbox

Use of address, email, fax and phone numbers of the FACC. (Certain conditions are required)

• Office support

A liaison office eases the follow-up and provides a reliable base for American companies (which usually require a local contact)
• Continues contact (by answering and calling services) with an unlimited number of trade prospects
• Management of the activities in the American area

• Arrangement of infrastructures

Before the definitive setting up of your local structure, we can provide you with:
• Completely equipped offices
• Reception of visitors and phone calls

This service may also include: personalized secretary, bilingual personnel, professional and commercial help, translations, etc.

• Local help in setting up

• Responsibility of the administrative process, legal and fiscal advice
• Guidance in official steps, research offices
• Selection of personnel

• Accounting/Administration

• Partial or complete accounting services
• Choice and implementation of accounting software
• Training of employees
• Consulting
• Audit of accounts
• Aid in accounts receivable
• Translation - business
• Taxes

• Researching competition

• Information on the evolution of the market
• Pinpointed new ideas and trends specific to your sector
• Analysis of the position of your competitors in the U.S.
• Examples of missions in other companies:
• Visits to the points of sales, study of the use of space for product, etc.
• Provision of samples
• Specific press reviews
• Visits to relevant shows
• Commercial documents related to your competitors, etc.
A monthly report will be given to you.

For further information, please contact:

Laetitia FAURE

Trade Attaché
Tel: (206) 443-4703
Fax: (206) 448- 4218
trade@faccpnw.org