STATEMENT FROM U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY PENNY PRITZKER ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES IN NOVEMBER 2013

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement today on the release of the November 2013 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services data. U.S. exports of goods and services grew by $1.7 billion to an all-time monthly high of $194.9 billion, from $193.1 billion in October, with record levels in petroleum and services. Exports through the first 11 months of 2013 totaled $2.1 trillion, signaling that the United States remains on track for another record-setting year.

“Today’s data show that U.S. exports continue to be a bright spot in our economic recovery,” said Secretary Pritzker. “U.S. exports currently support nearly 10 million American jobs, but we must do more to open doors for American goods and services. That is why increasing U.S. trade and investment is a key priority of the Commerce Department’s ‘Open for Business Agenda.’ We are committed to helping more U.S. companies participate in the global marketplace, ensuring strong enforcement of trade rules, and negotiating transpacific and transatlantic free trade agreements to open more markets and support more American jobs.”

Since President Obama launched the National Export Initiative (NEI) in 2010, an ambitious plan to sell more American goods and services into foreign markets, the United States has seen an increase of 1.3 million export-supported jobs. The NEI is the first Presidential-led, government-wide export promotion strategy. Through the initiative’s focus on improving trade promotion and advocacy, reducing barriers and enforcing trade rules, U.S. exports have continued to grow. The U.S. exported a record $2.2 trillion dollars last year, up more than $630 billion from 2009. The Commerce Department’s “Open for Business Agenda” calls for NEI 2.0, a new effort that aims to ensure closer government and industry collaboration to help U.S. businesses become more globally fluent.