This week, Kalim from North Carolina asks the best way for a small business to access markets abroad. He asks:
"What is the fastest way to global business growth? I just started a new corporation to offer digital media services for direct media marketing along with general construction for large and small businesses. I would like to expand my services to other countries in need. How do I go about doing that, in an efficient way?"
Ambassador Kirk responds:
"Thanks for your question. Small businesses have great potential for global business growth, and finding new customers overseas can help grow your business and create new jobs in your community.
Here at USTR, we have launched an initiative to make sure that America's trade policies increase opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises to export both goods and services. Services, in particular - including sectors like digital media services, marketing, and construction services - account for 80 percent of U.S. jobs and are an exciting growth area for U.S. exports.
While USTR works to open new markets abroad for all U.S. small businesses, the Department of Commerce offers customized resources to assist individual business such as yours with accessing new markets and taking advantage of our existing trade agreements. I would encourage you to visit www.export.gov to locate the U.S. Export Assistance Center nearest you, and discover the many online resources Commerce offers. If you're just beginning to sell internationally, Commerce recommends focusing on two or three best-prospect markets, and has step-by-step research guidelines online to get you started.
The Small Business Administration also has developed a Small Business Guide to Exporting, which you can find by clicking here.
I also encourage you to sign up for USTR's free email newsletter, which provides a weekly update on our initiatives with trading partners around the world and can be a good information resource. Go to our homepage, www.ustr.gov, and on the bottom right-hand corner click on enewsletter.
Congratulations on your new business, and good luck!"
Thank you for continuing our dialogue on trade. Please keep submitting your questions and comments for the Ambassador.
