European small and medium-sized enterprises surveyed about the problems they encounter trading in the US have raised concerns about a total of 1,200 perceived barriers.

A number of SMEs were surveyed in 2014 on challenges they face when exporting to the US, to gauge the impact that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) would have. The results of the survey were presented to EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.

SME exports to the US (€77 billion) make up 14 per cent of the value of all EU SME exports and five per cent of total EU exports.

In terms of numbers, 150,000 of the 169,000 EU firms that exported to the US in 2012 were SMEs, representing 88 per cent of the total. These statistics confirm that the US market is one of the most important export destinations for EU SMEs.

A similar comparison regarding the number of firms reveals that SME firms exporting to the US make up 24 per cent of the number of all SME (619,000) and 19 per cent of the total number of EU firms (790,000) exporting to the world.

These results underscore the possibilities offered by the ongoing TTIP negotiations

However, there are serious barriers, with the SMEs surveyed giving one main one: compliance with US food quality and safety rules and technical rules and regulations for all goods, which are different from those of the EU.

The majority of the concerns – 326 barriers – came from the food and beverages industries and agricultural products. In chemicals, pharmaceuticals and rubber and plastics, 122 specific issues identified, while in the manufacturing of machinery and equipment category there were 73.

In computers, electronic and optical products and electric equipment there were 105 barriers and in sectors like textiles, wearing apparel and leather, 48 were listed.

In some cases, EU SMEs say they are legally excluded from the market, as in many parts of public procurement. Other issues include problems of simply accessing information about what regulation applies to their product.

In the services area, restrictions in the movement of people are the most highlighted issue.

“These results underscore the possibilities offered by the ongoing TTIP negotiations to effectively contribute to facilitating the access of EU SMEs to the US market.

“An ambitious, balanced and comprehensive TTIP agreement represents the best opportunity to reduce small companies’ costs and potentially open up for them new market possibilities, to the benefit of both sides of the Atlantic,” the report concluded.