SMARTstart
Benefits of International Trade
Florida is the 18th largest economy in the world and the 7th largest exporter of state-origin products. Florida’s economy depends on international trade.
Over one million high wage jobs in Florida rely on trade, and an additional one million jobs are supported by it. According to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, for every ten jobs in export-related manufacturing, eight jobs in business services, nine jobs in retail and warehousing, and three jobs in transportation are directly supported by trade.
The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which encompasses Pasco, Hernando, Pinellas & Hillsborough County is the second largest exporting metro in Florida. Over 3,000 small and medium sized-enterprises in the Tampa MSA export and more than two-thirds export to countries that have a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Port of Tampa Bay trade totaled $4.51 billion for 2018 according to U.S. Census Bureau.
Whether you are exporting or importing, Pasco EDC has the tools and resources you need to expand your business through international trade.
