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For Immediate Release: June 9, 2010
Contact: Cory Churches (202) 482-3809
Commerce Official Outlines Initiatives to Assist Manufacturers, Increase Exports and Create Jobs
WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale delivered remarks today at the IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries executive market and technology conference to discuss the key role exporting plays in our economic recovery. Lamb-Hale stressed that maintaining and improving the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing industries and creating jobs is a matter of national importance and that the electronic industry will play a critical role in this process. She noted that President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI) – which aims to double exports in the next five years - will help remove barriers that prevent U.S. companies from getting free and open access to foreign markets.
“The Obama Administration has committed to a next-generation manufacturing agenda by partnering with the private sector to spur innovation, to invest in the skills of American workers, to promote exports, and to create and sustain American jobs,” said Lamb-Hale. “We recognize the need to maintain a manufacturing capability in the United States, while also acknowledging the economic reality of global competition and markets.”
The United States is the world’s largest manufacturing economy, employing nearly 12 million Americans in the production of $1.6 trillion in manufactured products—33 percent of the world’s manufactured goods.
Exports of U.S. manufactured products accounted for 81 percent of all U.S. exports of goods in the first quarter of 2010. Manufactured goods exports in March were 19 percent higher than the previous month, illustrating the value of a strong manufacturing sector to support the recovering economy and to achieve the goals set forth by the NEI.
IPC members manufacture printed boards and electronic assemblies, the foundation of all of America’s high tech and industrial electronic products, including defense, medical, and telecommunications equipment. The Department of Commerce and IPC have enjoyed a long history of collaboration, including a partnership through the Market Development Cooperator Program that led to the establishment of IPC’s office in China.
Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) is the premier government resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace and a leader in implementing the NEI, which provides more funding, more focus and more coordination to increase U.S. exports. ITA’s efforts include increasing trade missions and reverse trade missions, and expediting financial assistance awards through the Market Development Cooperator Program for foreign market development.
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International Trade Administration
The International Trade Administration (ITA) is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has 2,100 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 77 countries worldwide. For more information on ITA visit www.trade.gov.
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