[Contribution] Export vouchers, a ‘strategy’ rather than a ‘subsidy’

Exporting companies must know how to use export vouchers and criteria for selecting successful partners
 

The global trade environment surrounding domestic export companies is changing faster than ever. The strengthening of tariffs and export controls in the United States, expansion of environmental and ESG regulations in the EU, and increasingly sophisticated certification and non-tariff barriers by country are now applied to not only large corporations but also small and medium-sized export companies without exception. In this environment, the 'export voucher project' supported by the government goes beyond cost support and has become a key strategic tool to manage the risks of export companies and accelerate entry into the global market.

Export voucher business, time to focus on ‘proactive risk management’ beyond marketing
The export voucher project is a system designed to allow small and medium-sized export companies to freely select and utilize the services of private professional organizations registered as executing agencies by receiving vouchers from the government. In the past, it tended to be used for simple marketing, translation, and exhibition participation support, but recently, as global regulations have strengthened, the importance of 'proactive risk management services' has been greatly highlighted. Through the voucher, companies can receive initial entry advice, such as establishing an overseas corporation, as well as dispute prevention through export contract review and response services to the complex regulations and certification of the export partner country. Furthermore, it is possible to receive professional assistance for global risk management, ranging from precise diagnosis of tariff and non-tariff barriers to response to US tariffs and export controls, which are hot topics in the recent trade environment.

A problem often observed in practice is that legal, tariff, and regulatory risks are revealed only after the contract is signed, resulting in situations where the cost of post-action response far exceeds the amount of voucher support. This is why export vouchers should be used in the early design stage rather than as a short-term cost-saving measure.

Fragmented advice is risky, ‘integrated solutions’ are needed
Exporting is not a single area problem. Within one transaction, complex issues such as contract law, customs law, foreign exchange transaction law, taxation, intellectual property rights, and local regulations are intertwined. This is evidenced by cases where a single overseas agency contract turns into a dispute over exclusive rights, errors in FTA origin judgment lead to additional tariffs, and cases where brand use is blocked due to unregistered trademarks.

Therefore, rather than seeking advice for each field separately, companies should find an implementation agency that will comprehensively review all of these factors. It is necessary to carefully consider whether a one-stop service covering legal affairs, tax affairs, customs duties, and intellectual property rights is possible, and whether professional personnel such as lawyers, customs experts, and tax accountants can collaborate within one system to design a structure to prevent disputes from occurring from the beginning. This is the way to prevent division of responsibility and disconnection of strategy.

You must work with a partner who takes responsibility for execution.
In order to maximize the efficiency of using export vouchers, it is advantageous to select a partner who goes beyond the realm of advice and supports practical implementation. In other words, there is a need for a system that goes beyond consulting and supports trade document agency related to contracts, customs clearance, and payment, as well as overseas certification and local registration procedures.

In particular, for small and medium-sized companies with limited internal manpower, it is more important to select an executing agency with such a complete structure. This is because, given the reality of companies lacking a separate dedicated department, handling everything from advice to document processing and local registration all at once will reduce the work burden and, conversely, enjoy the tangible effect of improving work speed. Furthermore, it will also be an important criterion to check whether the company has extensive experience in responding to actual disputes or sanctions rather than theoretical explanations, and whether the latest global trade issues can be immediately reflected in practice.

Export vouchers: companies that use them properly will survive
Exporting has now become a strategy that determines a company's survival. The export voucher project is the most powerful weapon given to the country to implement its strategy. What is important is ‘with whom and how’ this weapon is used.

Rather than viewing vouchers as a task to be exhausted, companies should use them as an opportunity to find a reliable partner to join them on their global journey. If we select a company with the expertise to take full responsibility for our company's overseas expansion and actively utilize it, the trade environment of crisis will actually become an opportunity.

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[Contribution] Export vouchers, a 'strategy' rather than a 'subsidy'
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