We demonstrate that simply by using the ethnic makeup surrounding a firm’s location, we can predict,on average, which trade links are valuable for firms. Using customs and port authority data on theinternational shipments of all U.S. publicly-traded firms, we show that firms are significantly morelikely to trade with countries that have a strong resident population near their firm headquarters. Weuse the formation of World War II Japanese Internment Camps to isolate exogenous shocks to localethnic populations, and identify a causal link between local networks and firm trade links. Firms thatexploit their local networks (strategic traders) see significant increases in future sales growth and profitability,and outperform other importers and exporters by 5%-7% per year in risk-adjusted stock returns. Insum, our results document a surprisingly large impact of immigrants’ economic role as conduits ofinformation for firms in their new countries.