International trade is traditionally associated with large corporations that can afford huge fixed costs required to ship goods across the globe. However, the internet and technology are now allowing businesses of all sizes to engage in widespread cross-border trade, which is providing widespread economic benefits. This paper looks closely at data associated with this phenomenon in the context of Asia Pacific, a region of the world where commerce has reached an inflection point.
Trade and globalization have no doubt resulted in increased jobs and wealth around the world, but up until now it has only been the few largest players who have been able to take full advantage of globalization. If a small business wished to participate in the global economy, it was largely relegated to providing an intermediate product to a large multi-national supply process. This model for trade is the result of the immense resources that have traditionally been required to develop an international consumer base and deliver a product or service efficiently across borders.