Guide · Export Incentives

Government programs that can subsidize your US-market entry.

If you ship from Turkey, China, Europe, or the UK into the US market, your home country likely has export support programs that reimburse part of your costs — warehouse rent, marketing, certifications, sometimes even acquisitions. Here's what we see most often, and how Shipprep's invoicing makes grant paperwork easier.

Information current as of 2026. Government export support programs change frequently — rates, eligibility, and available categories are updated yearly by administering agencies. Always verify current rules with the official source or a qualified grant consultant before relying on specific reimbursement figures. Shipprep Houston is a fulfillment operator and does not provide grant-writing, legal, or tax advice.
By country

Four programs that cover most international sellers shipping to the US.

These are the programs we see referenced most often by clients. If your country isn't here, that doesn't mean you don't have support — ask us and we'll help you look.

Turkey

Agency
T.C. Ticaret Bakanlığı — e-İhracat Destekleri
Official source
ticaret.gov.tr/destekler/e-ihracat-destekleri

What's typically supported

  • US warehouse rent (including third-party fulfillment like Shipprep)
  • Digital marketing spend (Amazon PPC, Google Ads, Meta Ads)
  • Market-entry certifications (FDA, UL, CE-to-US, CPSC)
  • Overseas company acquisitions for market entry
  • Digital platform membership fees (Amazon Seller Central, Shopify)
  • Trade-fair participation and B2B showcases in target markets
Reimbursement pattern

Typical reimbursement ranges 50–70% of eligible expenses depending on category and company size. Annual caps vary by program — warehouse support can reach $200K+ per year for qualifying companies. Always verify current year's rates with your grant consultant.

How to apply

Applications are filed through the Ministry's e-ihracat portal or, more commonly, through approved grant consultants who handle paperwork and follow-up for a success fee (typically 10–20%).

How Shipprep invoicing helps

Our invoices include line-itemed categories that match eligible expense types under e-ihracat destekleri — separate line items for warehouse rent, prep services, and logistics so your consultant can submit without reformatting.

China

Agency
MOFCOM + Provincial Commerce Bureaus
Official source
mofcom.gov.cn (English version available)

What's typically supported

  • Cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones (跨境电商综试区) — 165+ participating cities
  • Export tax (VAT) rebates (出口退税) — 9–13% on qualifying exported goods
  • Regional foreign trade development funds
  • Overseas warehouse lease/construction subsidies (varies by province)
  • Brand internationalization programs
Reimbursement pattern

VAT rebate is the most common and straightforward — typically 9–13% of export invoice value, filed monthly via customs documentation. Warehouse and market-entry support varies widely by province — Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Jiangsu offer the most comprehensive programs.

How to apply

Tax rebates filed through your export agent (外贸代理) or directly if you have export licenses. Other programs filed through provincial commerce bureaus.

How Shipprep invoicing helps

We structure US-side warehouse and fulfillment invoices with the documentation elements Chinese export agents typically need for provincial reimbursement filings.

European Union

Agency
Single Market Programme + National Trade Agencies
Official source
single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu + country-specific agency portals

What's typically supported

  • Single Market Programme (SMP) — SME competitiveness strand
  • Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) — free advisory for SMEs
  • National agency grants: Business France, Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), ICE (Italy), Enterprise Ireland, ICEX España
  • Trade-fair participation grants (often 50% reimbursement)
  • Market research and legal/certification support
Reimbursement pattern

Program-specific. Most national agencies reimburse 40–60% of market-entry costs within annual caps (typically €10K–€100K). EU-level programs are more competitive and often co-funded.

How to apply

Via the respective national agency — there is no single EU portal for direct reimbursement of exporter costs. Start with your country's trade promotion body.

How Shipprep invoicing helps

Shipprep invoicing meets the standard documentation requirements of most EU national programs — VAT-eligible expense classification, tax ID on every invoice, monthly aggregation when needed.

United Kingdom

Agency
UK Export Finance (UKEF) + Dept. for Business and Trade (DBT)
Official source
gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-export-finance + great.gov.uk

What's typically supported

  • UKEF — export insurance, working capital guarantees, direct lending
  • DBT Export Support Service — free 1:1 advisory for exporters
  • DBT Export Academy — free training programs
  • Scotland / Wales / Northern Ireland — devolved grant programs (e.g., Scottish Enterprise SMART grants)
  • Innovate UK — for technology-led export initiatives
Reimbursement pattern

UK support is mostly financing (loans, guarantees, insurance) rather than direct reimbursement. Grants exist primarily through devolved nations and Innovate UK for specific sectors. DBT services are free.

How to apply

UKEF applications via gov.uk. DBT services via great.gov.uk or regional DBT teams. Devolved grants via each nation's enterprise agency.

How Shipprep invoicing helps

We provide clear, UK-standard invoicing suitable for UKEF working capital applications and Scottish Enterprise / Innovate UK grant submissions.

How it works

The 5-step reimbursement flow — same shape in most countries.

Programs differ in rates, caps, and categories, but the paperwork flow is remarkably consistent across Turkey, China, the EU, and the UK.

1

Find your program

Identify which programs your country offers for US-market entry. Your ministry of trade website is the authoritative source. Smaller countries (Greece, Romania, Poland, etc.) often have national agency programs worth checking.

2

Engage a grant consultant

Most sellers use a specialist consultant who handles application paperwork, follow-up, and submission on a success-fee basis (typically 10–20% of received grant). Worth it — programs are complex and rejection rates are high on self-filed applications.

3

Incur the costs

Operate normally — pay for warehouse, prep, marketing, certifications. Keep every original invoice. Most programs require the invoice to be in the beneficiary's official name with tax ID visible.

4

Submit with documentation

Your consultant bundles receipts, contracts, and proof-of-payment into the program's required format. Some programs require bank statements showing outbound payment, not just invoices.

5

Receive reimbursement

Timelines vary wildly: 2–6 months for Turkish e-ihracat, weeks for Chinese VAT rebate, 3–12 months for most EU programs. Budget and cash-flow accordingly.

Grant-ready invoicing

Shipprep paperwork is built to clear your program's submission, not block it.

One of the most common reasons international sellers miss reimbursement is that their US vendor's invoicing doesn't match the program's required format. Our invoices are structured to pass through Turkish, Chinese, EU, and UK programs without reformatting.

Line-itemed by service type

Warehouse rent, FBA prep, pick & pack, storage, and logistics appear as separate lines — matching reimbursement categories in most programs.

Tax ID and business name prominent

Every invoice shows your full registered business name and tax ID — no handwritten additions required for program submissions.

Monthly aggregation available

For programs that accept consolidated monthly statements, we issue a single monthly summary alongside individual invoices.

Bilingual statements (TR/EN)

Turkish-English bilingual invoices available on request for Turkish e-ihracat destekleri submissions.

Explicit expense categorization

Where programs require specific classification (e.g., 'logistics' vs 'warehousing' vs 'prep'), we map line items accordingly.

Historical reprints

Need to re-file or audit an expense from 6 months ago? We maintain searchable invoice history with 7-year retention.
Questions

Common questions about export incentives and Shipprep invoicing.

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