Brian Bieron, Executive Director of Global Public Policy, recently traveled to Korea to represent eBay at the 2016 Seoul Conference on Trade & Industry. The theme of the conference was “Leveraging Trade as a New Growth Engine” and the goals were: to explore the causes and determinants of the recent global trade slowdown and the future prospects of trade growth, and to examine the Trans-Pacific Partnership and digital trade as new engines for global trade and growth. Brian took part in a panel discussion specifically focused on digital trade as a new engine for global trade and was joined by the Chief the Economist of the U.S. International Trade Commission as well as other company and international trade officials.     

In his remarks, Brian noted the global concern right now with not only slow growth, but a lack of inclusive growth, and explained that microbusiness trade facilitated by platforms like eBay had the ability to address both of these issues. He explained that internet-enabled, platform-based trade is creating unprecedented global opportunities for even the smallest enterprises. Brian explained this platform-based trade as the “Global Empowerment Network” built on: (1) access to the global Internet at low cost without gatekeepers; (2) access to e-commerce platforms like eBay; (3) access to global payments platforms that allow small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to receive payments from consumers globally; and (4) efficient, modern and connected package-level logistics and delivery services.  

Brian then discussed eBay’s in-depth research revealing that nearly every micro, small and medium enterprise (MSMEs) accessing the Global Empowerment Network via eBay is an exporter and they are exporting to numerous markets across multiple continents. They are also growing at rates that exceed national averages overall. This proves to be a more inclusive model because the trade and growth figures are similar for MSMEs across advanced and developing economies, and stands in stark contrast to traditional MSMEs, of which almost none are engaged in trade. Brian directed policymakers to focus on removing barriers that restrict the ability of internet-enabled MSMEs from accessing global markets. These include, but are not limited to, lack of access to the open Internet and electronic payment platforms, inefficiencies at the border, cumbersome tax and regulatory policies, and outdated/non-integrated logistics and shipping networks.

The eBay Government Relations team was honored to be invited to the 2016 Seoul Conference on Trade & Industry and will continue to advocate on behalf of MSMEs at important events across the globe.