Nonprofit startup the Global Innovation Forum has published a report entitled The New Faces of Transpacific Trade which profiles 23 globally-engaged startups and small businesses across 12 countries: Australia, the Nation of Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam. The profiles feature a broad range of startups, from a fashion designer in Brunei to a US innovator who is taking on the global problem of food waste, to underscore the potential for startups and small businesses to be global from day one.

Upon release of the report, Laura Lane, president of Global Public Affairs for UPS, indicated a commitment to helping innovative enterprises reach new markets and deliver on their commitment to their customers. “We believe trade policy tools like the Trans-Pacific Partnership will help advance the global growth of startups and small businesses by removing barriers and simplifying procedures, and we’re pleased to be helping highlight the role of these entrepreneurs in the global economy,” she said.

Global Innovation Forum executive director Jake Colvin emphasised how technology has democratised access to the global marketplace, which is strengthening local businesses and communities. “The experiences of these entrepreneurs suggest that international markets present an important opportunity and provide a refreshing counterpoint to a political dialogue that suggests global markets are somehow a threat,” he said.