Fact Sheet: National Export Initiative To strengthen America’s economy, support additional jobs here at home, and ensure long-term, sustainable growth, President Obama launched a government-wide strategy to promote exports. The National Export Initiative (NEI) is one essential component of that strategy.
The Obama administration has made it a top priority to improve the conditions that directly affect the private sector’s ability to export, working to remove trade barriers abroad, help firms of all sizes and farmers overcome hurdles to entering new markets, and assist with financing. In addition, we have renewed and revitalized our efforts to promote American exports abroad.
These efforts are paying off–and helping to change the way America does business. Now more than at any time in our history, Americans are selling more U.S. goods and services to the 95 percent of consumers who live outside of our borders.
We continue to make progress toward the President’s goal of doubling exports by the end of 2014. U.S. exports for the first quarter of 2013 were nearly $555 billion, the highest quarterly total on record. In 2012, U.S. exports hit an all-time record of $2.2 trillion. Particular successes included the growth of exports to America’s free trade agreement (FTA) partners, record exports for the motor vehicle industry and for agricultural products, and a robust travel and tourism sector.
American jobs supported by exports increased to 9.8 million in 2012, up 1.3 million since 2009. This puts us ahead of schedule to meet the President’s goal of adding two million export-supported jobs by the end of 2014.
There is still more work to do. U.S. businesses faced global economic headwinds in 2012. That is why the Obama administration continues to do everything possible to support American farmers, workers, and businesses as they compete in the global marketplace.
Updates in this fact sheet include first quarter 2013 trade data, 2011 data regarding small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) exporters, and trade data as of the first anniversary of entry into force of the United States-Korea trade agreement.
EXPORTS MATTER: The World Wants What America Makes Manufacturing In 2012, the United States entered into trade agreements with three new partner countries: Colombia, Panama, and South Korea after concerted efforts to ensure the agreements better serve American workers and businesses and better reflect American values. As a result, the United States now has FTAs in effect with 20 countries, and these agreements helped to bolster U.S. exports throughout 2012.
Small Businesses
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
