January 7, 2009
News Release 09-002
Inv. No. 332-345
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2007, an annual compendium of data and analysis examining changes in trade with key U.S. partners and in crucial U.S. industries, was released today by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).

The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, releases the information in a web-based format that focuses on reasons for key shifts in trade, provides more detail, and can be searched by country or commodity sector.

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2007 can be accessed at: http://www.usitc.gov/tradeshifts/2008/default.htm

Users will find a comprehensive review of U.S. trade performance in 2007, focusing on changes in U.S. exports, imports, and trade balances of key natural resource, agricultural, and manufacturing industries, as well as changes in U.S. trade with major partners and groups. Also included are trade data for 2003-2007 for over 250 industry/commodity groups.

The report examines:

• market and economic factors influencing trends in U.S. trade with other major industrialized countries;
• what the United States exported to China and six other major trading partners and what it imported in return; and
• how increasing energy prices affected U.S. trade.

The ITC's Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade site also includes links to other ITC research and resources, providing users with quick access to analyses and data, as well as links to other government organizations that have related information.

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2007 is also available as a CD-ROM. Users can obtain the CD-ROM version through the "Request CD-ROM" link on the web site or by calling 202-205-2000 or by writing to the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.