Small business leaders increasingly view U.S. participation in global trade as the way to improve the overall economy and create U.S. jobs, reports FedEx in its fourth FedEx Trade Index report. The survey of more than 1,000 small business leaders found 82 percent of respondents see increasing U.S. trade as beneficial to the overall economy, up from 76 percent earlier in 2018. Two out of three say that the U.S. risks falling behind if not included in trade agreements.
The survey also polled respondents on the impact of tariffs on imports from China. It found that two out of three worry the tariffs will mean higher prices on consumer items, and three out of five say the impact on business will be negative.
“Tariffs can restrict global trade and economic growth,” says Raj Subramaniam, executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer, FedEx Corp. “FedEx supports lowering trade barriers so our customers can remain competitive in an increasingly global marketplace.”
The FedEx Trade Index tracks the impact of international trade among the small business segment of the U.S. economy. The most recent survey, conducted July 9-10 on FedEx’s behalf by Morning Consult, included business owners and executives at companies with between two and 500 employees.
FedEx has published an infographic of its findings here.