Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on International Trade in Goods and Services in July 2014

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement today on the release of the July 2014 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services data. U.S. exports of goods and services increased to $198.0 billion from $196.2 billion in June, with record levels in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines, as well as services exports.

“Exports continue to drive our economic recovery and support American jobs, and we want to continue building on that momentum,” said Secretary Pritzker. “All over the country, in places like Kansas City, Detroit, and Albuquerque, nearly 100 percent of post-recession growth has been driven by exports. Since 2009, we have doubled our exports to 46 countries. Every day, 11.3 million Americans wake up and go to a job that is supported by exports. President Obama and I know that in order for our businesses to compete and succeed globally, they must be able to sell their goods and services to the 95 percent of worldwide consumers who live outside our borders. At the Department of Commerce, we are committed to using every tool in our toolkit to open additional markets to ‘Made in America’ goods.”

Earlier this week, the Department of Commerce released two new reports that demonstrate the positive impact of goods exports around the country. The first, Jobs Supported by Goods Exports from States 2013, highlights for the very first time the number of jobs supported by good exports from each of the 50 states. The second, U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas Exports 2013, provides data on the level of goods exports achieved by the nation’s 387 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).

To continue strengthening U.S. exports, Secretary Pritzker launched NEI/NEXT in May, which will help more American companies reach additional overseas markets with objectives focused on improving data, providing information on specific export opportunities, working more closely with financing organizations and service providers, and partnering with states and communities to empower local export efforts. NEI/NEXT builds on the success of the National Export Initiative (NEI) launched by President Obama in 2010. Since the launch of the NEI, a record number of U.S. companies have exported annually, and the United States has seen an increase of 1.6 million export-supported jobs. U.S. goods and services exports have hit record highs four years in a row, reaching $2.3 trillion in 2013.