FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) released its Small Business Trade Index, a survey of U.S. small- and medium-sized business (SMB) leaders about their perceptions of the economy and trade. The study, which analyzed how technology and other trade policies impact U.S. business growth, found that a vast majority of SMBs believe trade is essential to growing and expanding the U.S. economy (88%) and growing jobs (85%). More than two-thirds of U.S. SMB leaders rely on imported goods for production or as merchandise to distribute domestically. These businesses report they export products that utilize imported materials, and 82% say the ability to import products or components from overseas directly supports jobs within their company. The majority of SMB leaders believe expanding trade to customers in other countries is a good thing, with approximately 9 in 10 identifying that the most important countries to maintain trade with are Japan, the United Kingdom, and China.