Importing into Wisconsin

The U.S. Customs Service * is the government agency that regulates importation of foreign products into the United States. The Customs website provides information on tariffs, quotas, and other issues affecting imports.

The Wisconsin Department of Commerce does not regularly assist firms seeking to import products into the United States. For such assistance we suggest you contact the consulates and trade commissions that represent foreign governments and business groups. Most of the United States' major trading partners have such offices in Chicago. The Consular Corps of Chicago * provides contact information for foreign government offices and links to other resources.

The State of Wisconsin does not require any special licenses or permits specific to importing. Other "non-international" regulations may apply and you can learn more about those through the State of Wisconsin Business Wizard *. Most small import/export trading firms fail not for international reasons, but because of the basic business problems that plague small entrepreneurs in all sectors. The Small Business Development Centers * on UW campuses around the state offer a variety of educational programs and counseling services for small business start-ups.