An independent federal government agency that helps finance the sale of U.S. exports, primarily to emerging markets. Financing is accomplished by providing loans, guarantees, and export credit insurance. In many cases, without financing guarantees, companies would decline to sell goods to companies in foreign countries because they would have little redress through the countryÂ’s legal system if the foreign company defaulted. In fiscal year 2002, the Ex-Im Bank author-ized financing to support about $13 billion in U.S. exports.