SMEs in international trade: Stylized facts

Every firm that contemplates expanding its operations in a foreign country has to choose a specific market entry strategy. As trade is the most common form of internationalization for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this section surveys available statistical evidence on the participation of SMEs in international trade in both developed and developing economies, and how their activities relate to traditional trade flows and to trade in the context of global value chains. The objective is to provide an accurate and detailed description of the SME trade landscape, but also to identify important gaps in information and data coverage.