Ninety-eight percent of all US exporters are small- and medium-sized businesses

In advance of the first Presidential Debate tonight, we thought we would re-post some important facts from the Office of the US Trade Representative on the importance of trade for small- and medium-sized US exporters. 

• 98 percent of all US exporters are small- and medium-sized businesses.
• Only about 5 percent of all small- and medium-sized businesses currently export. By breaking down trade barriers in foreign markets, and cutting foreign taxes in the form of tariffs on Made-in-America goods, the US can open new exporting opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses – helping drive additional growth for small- and medium-sized businesses nationwide.
• According to a recent survey by the Small Business Exporters Association, 49 percent of America’s non-exporting small businesses would be interested in exporting – if trade barriers are eliminated. 
• In 2013 alone, 170,000 small- and medium-sized businesses exported nearly $180 billion in goods to Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries. 

USTR has outlined a number of ways the TPP will help small businesses.

• Focus on small business – For the first time ever in any trade agreement, TPP has a dedicated chapter on small- and medium-sized businesses that focuses on how small businesses can benefit from trade. TPP also establishes a Small Business Committee that will meet regularly to review how small businesses are taking advantage of TPP, and discuss recommendations for making the agreement work better for small businesses.
• Breaking down barriers – TPP will address trade barriers that pose disproportionate challenges to small businesses, such as high tariffs, overly complex trade paperwork, corruption, customs “red tape,” restrictions on Internet data flows, weak logistics services that raise costs, and slow delivery of small shipments.
• Access to information – TPP will also provide easily accessible information to small businesses so they can take advantage of the opportunities the agreement will offer them.
• More – CLICK HERE to learn more from USTR about how TPP will help American small businesses.

​At TradeMoves, we support the TPP and appreciate the work USTR has done to give US exporters of all sizes the opportunities to more effectively compete for export sales in PacRim countries. Please let us know how TradeMoves LLC can help your business prepare to export. 

Shawn Jarosz
240-389-9001
@ShawnJarosz
@TradeMoves