For Immediate Release: April 12, 2010
Contact: Mary Trupo (202) 482-3809
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AND TEXTILE INDUSTRY LEADERS DISCUSS NATIONAL EXPORT INITIATIVE
WASHINGTON -- Francisco Sánchez, under secretary of commerce for international trade, and Kim Glas, deputy assistant secretary for textiles and apparel today promoted the benefits of President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI) to U.S. textile industry leaders at the National Council of Textile Organizations’ (NCTO) annual meeting.
“The U.S. textile industry has lost numerous jobs in the last few years,” Sanchez said. “The NEI provides additional funding across federal agencies to help meet the President’s goal of doubling exports during the next 5 years to support 2 million American jobs.”
The NEI was first made public in President Obama’s State of the Union Address and is a critical new effort that will lead to long-term, sustainable economic growth. For the first time, the United States will have a government-wide export-promotion strategy with focused attention from the president and his cabinet.
ITA supports the NEI through many initiatives including one that targets companies that currently export to only one or two markets to help them export to more countries, increasing their exports and helping support jobs in the U.S.
“About 58 percent of U.S. exporters export to only one market,” Sánchez said. “Imagine the national benefit if by working together we can help companies export to two or more markets in a world in which 95 percent of their customers are outside our borders.”
Sanchez discussed issues and ideas that are critical to increasing the Western Hemisphere’s competitiveness for U.S., Mexican, and Central American textile and apparel companies.
NCTO is a trade association representing the entire spectrum of the U.S. textile sector from fiber production to finished products and from machinery manufacturers to power suppliers. ITA strengthens the global competitiveness of U.S. industry, promotes trade and investment, and ensures fair trade through the rigorous enforcement of our trade laws and agreements.
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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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