U.S. Commerce Secretary: Trade Creates Tampa Jobs, Grows Economy
Second Stop on Nationwide Trade Education Tour

At a town hall meeting at the Tampa Port, Evans told local Floridians that "new markets open new doors of opportunity for workers to prosper and businesses to grow. Trade offers a higher quality of life for Americans and people around the world who are our trading partners," Evans said.

According to most recent figures, export sales from the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area reached $2.4 billion in 1999, up from $1.3 billion in 1993. The Port of Tampa alone generates more than 90,000 jobs, most of which are related to exports, with an impact of more than $10 billion on the local economy. On average, Tampa's exporting manufacturers pay employees 10 percent more than the county average.

Evans' visit to Tampa is the second stop on a list of cities he and other senior Commerce officials will visit as part of a new national initiative to visit all 50 states during President Bush's first term, educating businessmen and women, workers, and the next generation of entrepreneurs and workers about international trade's impact on our economy.

Free trade is among President Bush's top priorities. Evans said the 50-state initiative he launched in Kansas City in early June spotlights the often-overlooked contributions of trade. He pointed out that exports accounted for more than one-fifth of the nation's economic growth during the last decade. He also citied data showing that trade supports 12 million U.S. jobs, and that export-supported jobs pay as much as 18 percent more than the average wage.

In addition to Tampa, Evans tentatively plans to participate in trade education events before the end of this year in Orlando, Fla.; Little Rock, Ark.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Manchester, N.H.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Seattle and Spokane, Wash.; Des Moines, Iowa.