EXIM Bank's mission is to support U.S. jobs through exports. The U.S. content in EXIM Bank supported exports helps ensure that U.S. jobs benefit from EXIM Bank programs.

EXIM Bank offers two short-term programs — export credit insurance and Working Capital Guarantee. Consistent with the Bank's Charter to consider the "unique business requirements of small businesses" in formulating its policies, EXIM Bank has two separate short-term content policies for: (1) small business exporters as defined by SBA[1] and (2) non-small business exporters.

I. SMALL BUSINESS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In determining eligibility of goods and services exported by small businesses, applicable U.S. content consists of direct costs (i.e., labor, materials, and direct overhead) and indirect costs (e.g., research and development) associated with the production of the U.S. export.

To be eligible for EXIM Bank support:

  • Each product must be shipped from the U.S. to a foreign buyer; and
  • Each product must have more than 50% U.S content based on all direct and indirect costs, including but not limited to labor, materials, research and administrative costs, exclusive of profit; or
  • The aggregate content of all products of all invoices within a transaction[2] must be more than 50% U.S. based on all direct and indirect costs, including but not limited to labor, materials, research, and administrative costs, exclusive of profit.; or
  • If the U.S. content of any product or aggregate U.S. content of all products of all invoices within a transaction is 50% or less, only the U.S. content is eligible.

[Note: Value added after export from the U.S., as well as foreign charges such as import duties, taxes, and inland freight are excluded from cover.]

Level of Support

If the product or the aggregate products of all invoices within a transaction meets the more than 50% U.S. content eligibility threshold described above, the entire gross invoice value (sales price) is normally eligible for coverage at the applicable percentage. If the U.S. content of the product or aggregate products in a single invoice is 50% or less, EXIM may only support the value of the U.S. content at the applicable percentage. Based on the program (i.e., Working Capital Guarantee or Export Credit Insurance), standard percentages of coverage are 90 to 95%.

II. NON-SMALL BUSINESS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In determining eligibility of goods and services exported by non-small businesses, applicable U.S. content consists of direct costs (i.e., labor, materials and direct overhead) associated with the production of the U.S. export.

To be eligible for EXIM Bank support:

  • Each product must be shipped from the U.S. to a foreign buyer; and
  • Each product itemized on an invoice must be produced or manufactured in the U.S.; and
  • Each product must have more than 50% U.S. content based on labor, material, and direct overhead, exclusive of any profit).

[Note: Value added after export from the U.S., as well as foreign charges such as import duties, taxes, and inland freight are excluded from cover.]

Level of Support

If the product meets the eligibility criteria summarized above, the entire gross invoice value (sales price) is normally eligible for coverage at the insured percentage that is applicable. Based on the applicable program or policy type chosen, standard percentages of coverage are 90 to 95%.

Example of EXIM's ST Content Policy for Non-Small Business and Small Business

Below is an illustrative example of a medical equipment transaction seeking EXIM Bank support involving a small business exporter and a non-small business exporter.

 Labor, Materials and  
Direct Overhead		Total Labor,  
Materials and  
Direct Overhead		Indirect Costs  
(some examples)		Total  
U.S. Costs		All CostsSales Price  
(incl profit)
ItemMade inU.S.  
Labor &   
Materials		Foreign Labor  
& Materials		U.S.  
Marketing		Misc  
Foreign
1) stethoscopes  
2) oximeters  
3) dopplers		U.S.  
U.S.  
Mexico		$6,000  
$2,000  
$10,000		$5,000  
$8,000  
$3,000		$11,000  
$10,000  
$13,000		$3,000  
$1,000  
$6,000		$500  
$500  
$1,000		$9,000  
$3,000  
$16,000		$14,500  
$11,500  
$20,000		$17,400  
$13,800  
$24,000

The following discussion highlights how the eligibility criteria, calculation of eligibility, and the level of support vary for non-small and small business exporters.

Item #1-

Non- Small Business: This item is eligible for 100% of the Sales Price ($17,400) because (i) eligible U.S. content* ($6,000/$11,000=55%) is more than 50%; and (ii) the item was produced in the U.S.

Small Business: This item is eligible for 100% of the Sales Price ($17,400) because eligible U.S. content** ($9,000/$14,500=62%) is more than 50%.

Item #2-

Non- Small Business: This item is ineligible for any EXIM support because eligible U.S. content* ($2,000/$10,000=20%) is less than 50%.

Small Business: Only the U.S. costs ($3,000) are eligible for EXIM Bank support because eligible U.S. content** ($3,000/$11,500=26%) is less than 50%.

Item #3-

Non- Small Business: Even though eligible U.S. content* ($10,000/$13,000=77%) is more than 50%, the item is ineligible for any EXIM support because the core product was produced outside the U.S.

Small Business: This item is eligible for 100% of the Sales Price ($24,000) because eligible U.S. content** ($16,000/$20,000=80%) is more than 50%.

Total Transaction Support-

Non-Small Business: $17,400

Small Business: $44,400

Example of EXIM's ST Content Policy for Small Businesses: Aggregation Option

Small businesses may aggregate content of all products of all invoices within a transaction. For example, if a small business were exporting all three products listed above in one transaction, the following calculation would apply (according to the eligibility criteria described):

U.S. content = $9,000 + $3,000 + $16,000 = $28,000  
Total costs = $14,500 + $11,500 + $20,000 = $46,000  
Percentage of U.S. content = $28,000/$46,000 = 61%

Therefore, if the exporter is a small business, the three products under one transaction are eligible for 100% of the Sales Price ($55,200) because eligible U.S. content ($28,000/$46,000) is more than 50%. If a small business exporter opts to aggregate, a Content Report is required. (Note: if the exporter is not a small business and is exporting all three products listed above in one transaction, only Item #1 would be eligible for EXIM support because non-small businesses must calculate content on an item-by-item basis, and because each item must be produced and manufactured in the U.S.)

[1]The Small Business Administration has established "size standards" to determine whether a business is classified as a small business. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) defines industry size standards, which is usually stated in the number of employees or average annual receipts over the past three years.