Net economic gain -- The most successful economies are those where established industries rapidly adjust to changes in the global environment. Export-supported jobs account for an estimated 6.5 percent of Kansas' total private-sector employment, or one of every 15 jobs. And nearly one-seventh of all manufacturing workers in Kansas depend on exports for their jobs.         Gain global market share -- World trade has grown at more than twice the rate of U.S. economy since 1960. Over 95% of the world’s population lives outside of the United States and it is estimated that the international market constitutes a $4 trillion opportunity. According to the Department of Commerce, export expansion accounted for 40% of economic growth last year.         Reduce dependence on existing markets -- Companies that trade are better able to weather economic downturns. By expanding into foreign markets, a company will increase its marketing base and reduce internal country competition. The diversity of world markets usually means if one market is experiencing a downturn, there is another market experiencing tremendous growth. This makes a strong argument for free trade as a way to reduce an economy’s vulnerability to economic setbacks.         Enhance competitiveness & efficiency -- Exporting is proven to enhance a company’s competitive advantage. The firm will benefit from exposure to technologies, methods, and processes; production capacity and length of production may increase, thereby decreasing average per unit costs and increasing economies of scale. However, competitiveness is not limited to exports. In 2004, the USDOC addressed the advantages of a firm’s ability to competitively import, “The U.S. economy has benefited from import competition, which has helped maintain the competitiveness of many manufacturing enterprises and has dampened inflation considerably. The increased availability of low cost labor and manufacturing capacity has forced American firms to look at their global supply chain in order to remain competitive. In a global economy … the necessity for U.S firms to tap lower-cost parts and components is simply a function of trying to stay competitive in a global economy.”         Create and support jobs – Companies that trade experience faster employment growth rates plus higher average wage rates than domestic only manufacturers. According to the US Department of Commerce 15,000-20,000 jobs are dependent upon every $1 billion in exports. Kansas businesses currently export about $10 billion worth of manufactured and agricultural products annually, a conservative estimate for 2007, supporting 150,000-200,000 jobs. There are approximately 2,300 companies that conduct international business, of those approximately 1,800 are small and medium enterprises, with fewer than 500 employees. (USDOC) It is estimated that we are only operating at 20-40% of our export potential.