Evans:
West Coast Ports Situation
Illustrates Trades Importance to Economy
U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Don Evans today used the disruption caused by
the recent closure of ports on the West Coast to illustrate the importance
of trade to the American economy.
The
closing of 29 ports was costing the economy approximately $1 billion
a day and causing thousands of jobs to be lost. Both were too high
of a price for the American economy to pay, and both provided the
reasons for President Bush to act as he did, Evans said of President
Bushs decision earlier this week to invoke the Taft-Hartley
Act and reopen ports.
Evans
was in Dallas today to discuss trades impact on the economy
with students of the International Business Academy at Newman Smith
High School. The Academy teaches students the importance of trade
and allows them to earn up to 30 college credits in economics and
business courses.
The closing of the West Coast ports, and the resulting backup
of cargo provided an excellent illustration of the importance of trade
to our economy and to the livelihoods of American workers.
Evans
told students that Texas surpassed California during the first half
of 2002 to become the nations largest exporter. He cited statistics
showing that Texas companies exported approximately $46.3 billion
in goods and services and accounted for nearly 13 percent of total
U.S. exports during 2001.
To underscore the importance of trade, Evans cited the benefits of
trade to Texas economy as a result of NAFTA. Texas exports to
Mexico and Canada increased 65 percent since the NAFTA agreement in
1994 and have supported approximately 194,000 jobs that produce goods
exported to Canada and Mexico.
Evans
visit to Dallas is the eighth in a series of trips he has made to
highlight the importance of trade in the American economy and trades
impact on the lives of American workers. Evans has held similar events
this year in Kansas City, Mo., Tampa, Fla., Albuquerque, N.M., Los
Angeles, Calif., Orlando, Fla., Portland, Maine, and Bow, N.H.. The
Commerce Departments grassroots trade education initiative will
take Evans and other senior Commerce officials to all 50 states to
discuss trade during President Bushs first term.