Abstract

Purpose - This study investigates factors that affected the utilization of trade support policies and further analyzed how the utilization of trade support policies affected export performance. Research design, data, and methodology - With a sample of 223 small and medium-sized export firms from South Korea, this study examines the determinants of the utilization level of trade support system such as export market orientation, learning orientation, network capability and environmental uncertainty by regression analysis. Results - Export market orientation have a positive effect on the utilization of the trade support system and there is positive relationship between learning orientation and the utilization of trade support system. And network capabilities have had a positive impact on the utilization of the trade support system but there is no relationship between environmental uncertainty and the utilization of trade support system. The utilization of the trade support system had a positive effect on export performance. Conclusions - The internal and external factors of the organization have affected small and medium-sized export firms use of trade support systems. The utilization of trade support system can enhance positive export performance by providing valuable information and resource to external knowledge and also to complementary resources from the external partners.