PURSUING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY: ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Trade barriers between countries, especially cash-strapped countries, are being revised and or dropped as a means of promoting international trade. Even the U.S. is aggressively seeking trade with countries as a way to create jobs, boost our economy, and improve our trade balance Because of the importance of international trade, governmental agencies assist this process by "greasing the wheels of investment" through the provision of information, consultation, and exploration as they attempt to assist small- and medium-size businesses gain international trade experience (Business Korea, June 1999). For the U.S., SMEs will be the engine of economic growth over the next few years (Field, 1997). SMEs can go it alone, using internet technology, or they can seek low-cost assistance in learning the ropes relative to international trade.