The International Trade Footprint of US Latino-owned Employer Businesses

Nearly half of employer US Latino-owned businesses (LOBs) with annual sales greater than $10,000 engage in some form of international trade (exports and/or imports). Yet very little is known of LOBs and their international business activities. The present research relies upon a national survey of over 3,000 employer LOBs conducted in 2018 to provide baseline information on LOB international engagement. Multivariate analyses explore the determinants of international business activity for LOBs as exporters and/or importers. Important findings for LOB entrepreneurs include Latino origin, age, acculturation, and self-employment matter when engaging in international business activity. At the firm level, firm age, size, and ethnic product assortment are also significant in determining international business activity. Providing additional qualitative international business context to the national survey are four LOB case histories from Laredo, Texas. Managerial and policy implications are also presented.