Independent private firm that acts like an export department for several non-competing manufacturers and producers. Export management companies can be quite varied; they can be either local or foreign-owned, and operate on either a commission or a fee basis. A company may solicit orders from foreign buyers on behalf of its clients or take possession and title of their goods for direct export. The company also has the ability to appoint sales representatives in importing countries, promote goods and services of its clients, arrange for transportation, provide warranties and after-sales-service, and extend importer credit. also called export trading company.