Abstract: An international trade methodology for managing transactions in international trade. The method works with a plurality of internal and external service engines that are inside and outside the protection of a software firewall, respectively. The various service engines are configured to provide various international trade e-services appropriate to various jurisdictions, but are not configured to be used in a completely integrated system. The method uses an application server module configured to guide a user through the operation of the service engines as needed to complete the service needs of the user. The application server module buffers the user's interactions with the service engines for an integrated and consistent interface, and integrates the interaction of the service engines to form a seamless, fully integrated system. The user is offered total cost information for conducting an international transaction.