Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council Joins ACTION for Trade

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council joined ACTION for Trade, a coalition that aims to ensure that U.S. trade policy and agreements protect and promote creativity and innovation.

"Entrepreneurs and small businesses rely on strong intellectual property protections, and clear, fair, understandable processes for entering and selling in a market, to flourish -- not having these protections reduces and deters research and development, access to needed capital, and innovation overall," Karen Kerrigan, President and CEO of SBE Council, said. "We are proud to join ACTION for Trade in advocating for strong IP protections for the innovative products and services that our member businesses and entrepreneurs create."

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy. Nearly half of private-sector employees work at a firm with less than 500 workers. Roughly one in five work at a firm with less than 20.

These entrepreneurs and their workforce are innovators. Ninety-six percent of firms in IP-intensive manufacturing industries are small businesses. They also produce breakthrough products. Between 2002 and 2006, small firms received 15 times more patents per employee than did large firms.

These products go all over the world. Nearly 98 percent of firms that export goods are small- and medium-sized businesses. These exports comprise nearly one-third of the total value of U.S. exports.¹

"Small businesses and entrepreneurs deserve just as big of a voice in shaping trade policy as do larger organizations," said Brian Pomper, executive director of ACTION for Trade. "ACTION is thrilled to have their voice in our coalition."

About ACTION for Trade: The American Creative, Technology, and Innovative Organizations Network is a coalition of trade associations and businesses dedicated to shaping U.S. trade policy. ACTION for Trade aims to make sure U.S. trade policy and trade agreements foster innovation and creativity and protect the intellectual property that drives U.S. trade competitiveness. ACTION for Trade also seeks to help shape global trade standards to advance American creativity and innovation, to grow IPR-enabled U.S. services trade surplus, and to open new markets for American creators and innovators.

For more information go to www.ActionForTrade.org.

Members of ACTION for Trade include: Authors Guild, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC), Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Oracle, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Qualcomm, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council).

Contact:
Emily Troisi
(202) 471-4228, ext. 120 
[email protected]

¹ http://www.babson.edu/executive-education/expanding-entrepreneurship/10k-small-business/Documents/goldman-10ksb-report-2016.pdf

SOURCE ACTION for Trade

Related Links

http://www.ActionForTrade.org