The fifth FedEx trade index has found that small business leaders across the country increasingly view the United States’ participation in global trade as the main driver to improve economic growth and adding jobs.
The index, compiled via a national survey of more than 1,000 small business leaders by Morning Consult, tracks the impacts of trade amongst the small business community in America. 82 percent of respondents view increasing U.S. trade as beneficial for the overall economy and 75 percent say that selling products online to international customers was important for the growth of their business. 80 percent say tariffs and fees have had at least some negative effect on the growth of their business.
The survey also found that 79 percent of small business owners and decision-makers support NAFTA, and 84 percent support its recent replacement, the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“FedEx knows that simplifying and expanding global trade is essential to our customers’ success,” says Brie Carere, the executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer for FedEx Corp. “The results of the latest FedEx Trade Index confirm the negative impact of tariffs on small business growth. We believe everyone benefits when it’s easier to bring new ideas and products to the global market. Breaking down trade barriers is essential to creating new opportunities for our small business customers.”
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