Kirk is also convening a working group to ensure that U.S. policymaking and trade enforcement efforts immediately seek to better serve SMBs.

"USTR is sharpening its focus on small- and medium-sized American businesses to craft new trade policies and enforce existing ones in ways that will help these firms grow exports around the world and grow jobs here at home," Kirk said.

USTR will seek to set priorities for new trade agreements and for the implementation of existing trade agreements that are more responsive to the needs of these businesses and their workers, Kirk said.

This is good news for small business owners, according to a group of Senators who applauded the announcement. Senator Mary Landrieu has introduced a bill that seeks to establish an assistant trade representative to focus specifically on small business.

"I would like Ambassador Kirk to consider our request for an Assistant USTR exclusively for small business," Landrieu said. "This will ensure that there is an advocate for small businesses in the room during trade negotiations."