Small businesses discover a world of opportunity in exports

April 8, 2008

In a powerful trend that is reshaping the economic landscape, a rising wave of U.S. small businesses and start-ups are going cross-border and selling hundreds of billions of dollars in goods and services to Asia, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Africa.

While big corporations dominate global business news, small companies are charging into overseas markets at a faster pace. From 1992 through 2007, exports by U.S. small businesses have soared nearly fourfold to $400 billion, according to a preliminary estimate by economist Harvey Bronstein of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

That number could climb more if the weak U.S. dollar continues to boost exports, and if the Federal Reserve and lenders keep lowering rates to help fire up the cooling economy.

By Edward Iwata, USA TODAY

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2008-04-07-small-business-exports_N.htm

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The Montana World Trade Center http://www.mwtc.org