Throughout 2014 the Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce has been holding a series of conferences around the United States promoting the export opportunities found in different foreign markets called Discover Global Markets.  The session being held in New York, October 7-8, will focus on Greater China where attendees will have the opportunity to meet with U.S. Commercial Service diplomats stationed there, participate in panel discussions in the latest industry trends in China, identify emerging consumer markets, learn about U.S. Government assistance programs and network with officials, experts and business people experienced in the Chinese market.  

The U.S. Commercial Service maintains a network of Export Assistance Centers throughout the United States where one can meet in person free-of-charge with industry specialists to explore exporting a product or service.  There are five office locations alone in the New York City area in lower Manhattan, Harlem, Long Island, Westchester County and Newark, NJ.  In addition to one-on-one counseling the U.S. Commercial Service also hosts Export.gov which offers a Market Research Library of regularly updated country specific reports such as their Country Commercial Guides which are released annually for each national market.  According to the latest Country Commercial Guide for China, the leading industry sectors for U.S. companies include frachising, healthcare, rail and urban rail and packaged foods.  Despite China's economy slowing in recent years, the country still has a growing middle class larger than the population of the entire United States hungry for western goods.  According to a recent Economist report on the retail sector in China it is expected to grow 8% annually during the next five years and will surpass that of the United States at the end of that time period.  The report also states that China is the largest grocery, luxury goods and e-commerce market in the world.

The New York Public Library offers access to a number of electronic databases which allow the researcher to read regularly updated reports on China's and other countries' industrial sectors, major companies, financial markets and economic conditions.  These include Business Monitor Online, Emerging Markets ISI and IBIS World.  If you are interested in sourcing products from China the Panjiva database reveals who the foreign suppliers are to importers located in the United States.