The UPS http://www.ups.com “Perceptions of Global Trade” survey of more than 1,000 SMBs found that 24 percent of the nation’s small- and medium-sized businesses are currently engaged in global commerce. Those SMBs who don’t export any of their products say the dour economic news of recent years has discouraged them.

Of the exporters surveyed, 64 percent saw a financial return within two years, and 34 percent saw a financial return in less than six months. Almost half (49 percent) of respondents said they expect to double their businesses’ exports by 2015, and 66 percent say that up to 25 percent of their annual revenue comes directly from exporting.

SMBs engaged in global business reported the most success exporting to Canada, Mexico, the UK, and Australia—countries with which the U.S. either has free trade agreements or bilateral trade relations. In contrast, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of SMB exporters say they have not had success exporting to the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) in the past 10 years. There are no U.S. free trade agreements with these nations.  wt