Small businesses that sell overseas could soon get longer, more flexible government-backed credit lines. The Small Business Administration has formally signaled it will propose the biggest overhaul in years to its Export Working Capital Program, or EWCP, the main SBA loan product designed to help exporters cover the gap between production costs and getting paid by foreign buyers.
The planned changes appeared in the SBA’s Regulatory Agenda published August 14, 2026 in the Federal Register, under RIN 3245-AI07. The agency says it will issue a formal notice of proposed rulemaking, or NPRM, to enhance the program.
What the SBA wants to change
Under current rules, EWCP loans max out at 3-year terms and can only finance export transactions, secured mainly by export-related inventory and foreign accounts receivable. The proposed rule would push the maximum maturity to 5 years, giving exporters nearly twice the repayment runway.
It would also let borrowers use EWCP proceeds for asset-based working capital facilities, meaning lenders could advance funds against a company’s inventory and receivables in a revolving structure, closer to how private-sector asset-based lending already works. A small but notable addition would allow up to 30% of an asset-based EWCP line to cover domestic accounts receivable, something the current program does not permit.
On top of that, the SBA wants to let applicants submit financial projections to justify pre-shipment working capital needs, rather than relying only on existing orders or past performance. The agency also plans to align EWCP underwriting requirements with broader industry standards for asset-based lending.
Not final yet
These changes are still at the regulatory agenda stage. No binding proposed rule has been published, and a public comment period has not yet opened. Current EWCP rules remain in effect, and no business should plan around the new terms until the formal NPRM appears and a timeline for finalization becomes clear.
Small business exporters who want to prepare should map their working capital needs, including any domestic receivables, against the proposed structure. Talking to an SBA-participating lender now about how a 5-year, asset-based EWCP line might work is a practical first step once the formal proposal drops.
Watch for the actual proposed rule in the Federal Register in the coming months. That document will spell out detailed eligibility, collateral, and documentation requirements, and it will open the window for public comment.
