ITC studies small, mid-sized U.S. exporters

ITC studies small, mid-sized U.S. exporters    The U.S. International Trade Commission, an independent fact-finding agency, will conduct the first of three studies to examine the extent and composition of U.S. exports by small and medium-sized firms and factors that may disproportionately impede these activities.
   The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative requested the studies.
   For the first study, “Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Overview of Participation in U.S. Exports,” which is due to the USTR by Jan. 12, the ITC will survey all available data regarding U.S. exports by small and mid-sized companies and identify any gaps in the existing data.
   The report will describe the characteristics of SMEs, their exports, and their role in generating employment and economic activity in the United States. “As far as possible, the report will also provide information on SME exports by product and sector, large markets for those exports, and trends over time,” the ITC said.
   The ITC will not hold a public meeting in connection with the first study, but will accept written comments for the record through Nov. 17. For more details, access the ITC Web site.
   The second report in this series will compare SME export activity in the United States and European Union, examine barriers to exporting noted by U.S. SMEs and SME strategies to overcome special constraints and reduce trade costs, and identify benefits to SMEs from increased export opportunities, including those arising from free trade agreements and other trading arrangements. This report is due to the USTR by July 16, 2010.
   The third report will look at U.S. SMEs engaged in providing services, including the characteristics of firms that produce tradable services, growth in services exports, and the differences between SME and large services exporters. The report will also examine U.S. goods and services exports by SMEs and identify trade barriers. In addition, it will identify how data gaps might be overcome to enhance the understanding of SMEs in service sector exports. The agency must submit the report to the USTR by Oct. 6, 2010.
   “Information concerning hearings, written submissions, and other details related to the second and third studies will be provided when those investigations are formally initiated,” the ITC said.