International Trade Administration and Amazon Launch New Initiative to Boost Export Opportunities for American Small Businesses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2023
Contact: Office of Public Affairs
publicaffairs@trade.gov
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) and Amazon announced a Strategic Partnership to facilitate an exciting new collaboration called GoGlobal with Commerce and Amazon. The initiative will help thousands of small businesses across the U.S. to expand their businesses globally and increase sales by taking advantage of ITA’s assistance and resources, and Amazon’s marketplaces to reach new customers around the world.
The GoGlobal Initiative will combine ITA, which will provide participating U.S. small businesses with guidance, information, and resources, with the global reach of Amazon, which will provide training to U.S. businesses to harness the power of the internet to reach more customers in 21 countries around the globe where Amazon Global Selling is available.
Small and medium-sized businesses represent a large percentage of U.S. exporters and are a significant driver of American economic competitiveness. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, over 277,000 U.S. companies exported goods in 2021 and 97.4% of those identified were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These SMEs represented 34.6% of the United States’ identified $1.5 trillion in goods exports.
“Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the United States economy – over the past 25 years, small businesses have generated 12.9 million net new jobs which account for two out of every three jobs added to the economy. Through eCommerce, businesses can find a more robust channel than ever for expanding international sales through digital strategies and a globalized web presence,” said Assistant Secretary for Global Markets Arun Venkataraman. “ITA’s partnership with Amazon—which will help small businesses across the United States access markets around the world—is an example of how we are delivering on our commitment to advance inclusive economic growth.”
“At Amazon, we’re always working to support small businesses and create more opportunities for them to succeed,” said Brian Huseman, Vice President of Public Policy at Amazon. “We are thrilled to partner with the U.S. Department of Commerce in this initiative so that, together, we can empower more U.S. entrepreneurs to find new customers for their products and grow their businesses online. Public-private partnerships, just like this, are an important part of promoting U.S. small businesses and growing the U.S. economy.”
Through this initiative, U.S. small business exporters will be able to easily find global selling opportunities and acquire the tools to begin or expand their exporting journey through interactive content and training webinars. The new GoGlobal with Commerce and Amazon landing page will serve as a one-stop-shop for resources produced in collaboration between ITA’s Commercial Service and eCommerce Solutions Center and Amazon’s global selling experts. It will also serve as a hub for information on other U.S. Government programs and resources, such as acquiring STEP export vouchers; navigating complex regulatory and customs environments, and coaching on how to leverage deals and promotions to grow business through Amazon global stores.
About the International Trade Administration’s U.S. Commercial Service
The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its network includes 100+ offices across the U.S. and in American embassies and consulates in more than 80 international markets. Whether you’re looking to make your first export sale or expand to additional markets, we offer the expertise you need to connect with business opportunities worldwide. For more information, visit www.trade.gov or contact your local U.S. Commercial Service Office.
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