# Can an International Trade loan include working capital?

**Short answer:** Yes, up to $2,000,000 per loan (SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. C.2; Policy Notice 5000-877629). 13 CFR 120.348 separately limits the working capital guaranty, combined with your other 7(a) working capital loans, to $4,000,000.

Canonical page: https://www.sbaexpress.loans/answers/international-trade-loan-working-capital/
Last checked: 2026-11-08

Yes. An International Trade loan may include working capital, up to $2,000,000 per loan (SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. C.2; Policy Notice 5000-877629, effective May 1, 2026).

## A separate guaranty limit

13 CFR 120.348 limits the guaranty on any working capital component of an International Trade loan to $4,000,000. A separate Export Working Capital Program (EWCP) loan or other 7(a) working capital loan counts against that limit. SBA's lender page states the same rule (sba.gov/sba-lenders, read November 8, 2026).

## What the lender must explain

The credit memo must justify working capital of 50 percent or more of the proceeds. It must explain why that level is necessary and appropriate (Para. C.4).

## Collateral on the working capital piece

Trading assets such as receivables and inventory take the first lien when the loan finances working capital. The same goes for refinancing a working capital loan (Appendix 19, Para. B.8).

## When EWCP fits better

EWCP is built for short-term export working capital, up to $5,000,000 and 36 months. An International Trade loan is a term loan, and working capital is only one part of what it can finance.

The maximum term for working capital is 10 years (Appendix 17, Paras. A.1 and B.8).

## Sources

- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 5, Paras. C.2 and C.4 (Para. C begins p. 193)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SBA Policy Notice 5000-877629, International Trade Loan updates (effective May 1, 2026)](https://legacy.sba.gov/document/policy-notice-5000-877629-7a-international-trade-loan-program-updates)
- [13 CFR § 120.348](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/section-120.348)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 19, Para. B.8 (Para. B begins p. 408)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SBA, Terms, conditions and eligibility for 7(a) lenders, sba.gov/sba-lenders (read November 8, 2026)](https://www.sba.gov/sba-lenders)