International trade is an important aspect of life in Indonesia. People live, populate, and do activities under the effects of international trade. The fact of the matter is the people of Indonesia will always have activities that correlate to international trade. Other than that, international trade has an important role within the commercial world. This is because of the fact that international trade is inevitable due to globalization. This is especially true in industries that rely on cultural impact such as the footwear industry. Fashion has always been internationalized and spread throughout the world as part of globalization. Without globalization, companies will find it hard to enter foreign markets. This is where exporting come to mind, when business leaders think of expanding their markets outside of their domestic borders. The current dynamic within the Indonesian footwear industry is that its market for lower-middle class shoes has been saturated. Domestic brands have dominated this segment for decades and new competitors can only compete through price. The next logical step toward market expansion is to look abroad. Indonesia has been part of ASEAN for years now, and that has brought several benefits to its relationships with neighboring countries. The formation of the AEC has only enhanced this mutuality by eliminating trade tariffs and other technical barriers. This serves as an opportunity for SME's (Small-Medium Enterprises) in Indonesia to explore markets outside of its borders. By conducting international trade through the export of goods, the potential for growth for countries within the AEC is bound to rise.