Many businessowners assume the "safety net" provided by their domestic commercial insurance coverage will follow their products and employees when they leave the United States, and provide adequate protection in foreign markets–a common and very costly mistake.

The safety net provided by domestic business coverage is stretched extremely thin beyond U.S. boundaries. What's more, it's not a question of whether the safety net will tear, but when, and how severe the losses will be when it does.

Liability gaps expose U.S.-based businesses to potentially devastating losses overseas. The rise in global trade has led to unprecedented growth in legal suits brought in the United States from outside groups in all areas of the world. As the "global village" expands, so does awareness of settlements awarded when U.S.-based companies are targeted for legal action.