At 05:32 PM 6/21/02 -0400, you wrote:


>Does anyone out there have any information on the additional costs/risk of
>shipping items such as PIC microcontroller based products from the US to
>other countries? Are there specific export restrictions to certain
>countries?

Yes, the US government imposes restrictions on most sales to a small number
of countries.

Mostly the ones you'd expect (Cuba, Libya, Iraq etc.). There is nothing
hi-tech about PICs so I don't think there are any other restrictions, but
check if you want (with the US Commerce Dept). I doubt China, Russia,
Ukraine etc. present any problems for "normal" (not leading edge) exports.
Costs depend a lot on the shipping mode. Airmail can be fast enough and
cheap for small individual orders. The easiest way to handle shipments
that are more $$ and weigh more is to use a forwarder, but there are
many other ways. You might want to see if your local Chamber of
Commerce or gov't is offering any short courses or pamphlets on starting
exporting. It is a good idea, good for your country, good for world trade
and with the US$ dropping of late, becoming easier for you to make money
at it. So probably worth the small amount of effort to do it right.
You will probably have to initially place the onus on the recipient to
assure themselves that compliance with local regulations is acceptable.
Later, if it's worth it to you, you can worry about CE and such like.

>What are the risk associated with people filing bogus law suits
>and such?

Much less than in the US, IMHO. If your products kill or maim people,
deaths, maimings, fires etc. due to export sales will probably be the
least of your problems.

Best regards,

Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..."            "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com
9/11 United we Stand

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