98 percent of U.S. Goods-Exporting Firms are Small Businesses
WASHINGTON – Members of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business pressed officials from the Departments of State and Commerce today about the challenges small firms are facing in navigating the Obama Administration’s Export Control Reform Initiative (ECRI). Today’s hearing was the second in a two-part series where Administration officials were asked to respond to problems identified by small business owners on yesterday’s panel.
“I believe there is a certain level of responsibility on the government to ensure that this transition doesn’t overburden small businesses and I am concerned with their lackluster outreach efforts,” said Committee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH). “Additionally, we have heard that the export control lists aren’t completely synchronized and that’s creating some confusion. There are also valid concerns about the long delays in the agencies’ licensing approval processes and the cumbersome paperwork requirements. So, clearly, much work still remains to be done.”
Small businesses represent 98 percent of U.S. goods-exporting firms, making them an essential part of trade policy.
You can read the testimony from today’s witnesses here and watch video of the full Committee hearing here.
