U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke issued the following statement on the release of the May 2010 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department's U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Today's report showed that U.S. exports in May 2010 increased by 2.4 percent to $152.3 billion from their April 2010 level. Imports in May increased 2.9 percent over April to $194.5 billion.

“Today’s numbers are another promising sign that the worldwide economic rebound and a renewed focus on increasing exports continues to boost the number of U.S. goods and services sold overseas – up almost 18 percent over the first five months of the year. While the data on imports points to strengthening consumer demand, it is another reminder that more must be done to close the trade gap, including fighting for a level playing field for U.S. businesses in markets overseas and continuing to improve our advocacy efforts on behalf of American businesses that want to sell there. That’s precisely what President Obama’s National Export Initiative aims to do.”