In an increasingly globalized economy, international trade in services now rivals trade in physical goods. However, trade flows have not increased as much as they could have. Too many businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), have not engaged effectively and efficiently in international trade. Language differences are a big barrier. Do translation services support transaction flow? In this article we will look at whether translation is a critical factor in the ability of businesses to engage in international trade. It examines whether translation is important for engagement in international trade in goods and services and how the different provision, quality and need for translation between different language pairs affect international trade flows. The value of a language increases as the importance of trade increases, but recent years have seen a stabilization in the growth of trade flows—partly because individual countries’ responses to the linguistic divide have been insufficient. By creating a global market, languages either enhance or hinder trade. The barriers created by language differences and the ways in which translation can overcome these barriers are key factors influencing further business evaluation.