FedEx Trade Index: Small Businesses View Trade, Technology as Avenues for Growth, Essential to COVID-19 Recovery

Rhea-AI Summary

The sixth FedEx Trade Index reveals that 82% of U.S. small business leaders believe expanding international trade will enhance the economy. Moreover, 75% see it as a means to create jobs and opportunities. However, 70% of businesses engaged in international trade cite customs regulations as a barrier to their e-commerce. Support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has risen to 91% among U.S. respondents. The survey, conducted by Morning Consult, highlights that 85% of small businesses prioritize job retraining to remain competitive globally.

Positive

• 82% of U.S. small business leaders believe increased trade will improve the economy.
• 75% foresee job creation and new opportunities from expanded trade.
• Support for USMCA has grown to 91% among U.S. small businesses.

Negative

• 70% of businesses report customs regulations hinder their international e-commerce efforts.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A majority of U.S. small business leaders think expanded trade between the United States and other countries creates opportunity and jobs in the U.S., notes the sixth FedEx Trade Index⁽¹⁾, a survey of 1,000 small business leaders which tracks the impact of international trade among the small business segment of the U.S. economy.

The survey*, commissioned by FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and conducted by Morning Consult, finds 82% of U.S. small business decision makers believe increasing trade between the U.S. and other countries will improve the economy overall. Three-fourths (75%) of these small business leaders think expanding trade will create opportunities and jobs. Still, some respondents report feeling unable to take full advantage of the benefits of trade: 70% of companies engaged in international trade said that customs regulations presented a barrier to their international e-commerce business.

“The results of the FedEx Trade Index remind us that, even in times of global uncertainty, small businesses overwhelmingly value the opportunities for growth and access to new markets that are made possible through global trade,” said Brie Carere, executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer, FedEx Corp. “In 2020, small businesses are adapting rapidly to embrace e-commerce and extending their reach to new consumers beyond their borders. Small businesses believe in the benefits of modern free trade agreements to enable their growth.”

The Fall 2020 FedEx Trade Index also features a complementary survey conducted in Canada, offering insights from business leaders from two of the three markets in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which took effect in July 2020. An overwhelming majority (91%) of U.S. small business leaders are supportive of USMCA, up from 84% in the Fall 2019 FedEx Trade Index. Small business support for the agreement is also strong among survey respondents in Canada, where 86% of small business leaders expressed their support for USMCA.

Additional insights include:

• 85% of U.S. small businesses agree that programs addressing job retraining and skills upgrading should be a priority to help the U.S. compete globally.
• 47% of small businesses report investing in new technology since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• A majority of respondents say using technology to create better customer (74%) and employee (71%) experiences is important for their small business’ success and COVID-19 recovery.

^[1] The FedEx Trade Index is a national survey of 1,000 U.S. small business leaders conducted by Morning Consult. Trade Index research also incorporated 500 respondents in Canada. Respondents included business owners and executives at companies with between two and 500 employees. The U.S. and Canada research was conducted online September 28-29, 2020. The margin of error for the full sample is +/-3%.

For More:
Survey Results
Infographic

Previous FedEx Trade Index releases:
*FedEx SME Trade Index Fall 2019
*FedEx SME Trade Index Summer 2018
*FedEx SME Trade Index Winter 2018
*FedEx SME Trade Index Spring 2017
*FedEx SME Trade Index Fall 2016

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $71 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 500,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please visit about.fedex.com.