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Hello Solomon,
From my travels around the world and through my friends and relative experiences, I was able to develop a basic image of international trade.
Let's start with jobs. Even though i'm still relatively young but I would highly advise you to consider that getting jobs especially in the US is harder compared to citizens since employers have to issue you an H1B visa. The costs for issuing such a visa is high and most companies do not want to spend that money and then have you leave the country after a while.
Some employers are even ok with you leaving them but not leaving the country at least because of the costs they paid.
So you have to be patient when applying to jobs and you have to apply a lot compared to citizens. In addition, you need to deliver the image to employers that you have no intentions of leaving them as this is considered a red flag by them.
Recently, there was a website which was launched called glassdoor, it is mostly targeted for jobs in the US and it is way much easier than linkedin. The website also lists salaries and positions for companies.
Now and as for international trade, I would suggest you do a lot of emailing, even if you do not start a business, at least you would get a better image of international trade.
Since you live in Nigeria, you have a lot of Oil and Gas opportunities, you could strike a deal with any firm in the state of PA or Texas for industrial equipment and maintenance.
Be aware though that it does not sound as easy as being read. The main problem I face with parents today who want to start such business, is that they want the foreign firm to come to their home countries and work under their names only.
It is absolutely wrong and it is not the way one would work with them. Foreign companies are always afraid for their interests and they are always looking for partners who would take the weight off their shoulders and not add to it!
You have to provide foreign business with your small business or mid-business profile, vision etc. In addition, you would provide them with guarantees such as financial guarantees and statistics about your firm for them to consider.
You might notice that in Nigeria, foreign corporations partner up with rich guys who have chains of firms. It is not because they are rich, it is because they would take the weight off of foreign firms.
All what you read above is about striking deals with big firms. If you are still considerably small business, you would target small businesses or mid-businesses abroad too. The benefit of this is that they are not as much afraid as bug corps and they are willing to send you free samples and machines just to get the business going and then you would negotiate debts etc after a while.
Another dimension of all of this, is shipping!
You have to explore the firms that do shipping. If you get to know someone through emails who does shipping in the US, that's great, because he will connect you with guys like him in Australia, Italy, Japan and China.
You need also to understand what pallets are, what crates are and what documents are needed whether for exports or imports. Taxes, fees and shipping methods.
For example, there is the FOB method of shipping, which states that the seller will be responsible for damages and costs of the goods you bought until he delivers them from let's say Alabama to the board of the ship. After the shipment sailed, it is your responsibility now for any damages that might occur such as storms, disaster etc.
No matter what amount of reading you will do on the internet, unless you do not do a lot of emailing, you would never get the right image.
If all information was available online, everybody would become rich over night. I hope my answer did shed some light on some of your questions.
I could share more in depth details once you ask for them.
Regads.
