For Immediate Release: August 22, 2012
Contact: Mary Trupo (202) 482-3809
Obama Trade Official Concludes 'Made in America' Tour Highlighting Strength of American manufacturing
Under Secretary for International Trade highlights aerospace sector in CO and AZ
DENVER - Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez today concluded his “Made in America” tour with remarks to an aerospace industry roundtable and visits to a pair of innovative manufacturing facilities outside Denver. Throughout his three-day tour that included stops in Las Vegas and Phoenix, as well as Denver, Sánchez promoted the benefits of strengthening American manufacturing and expanding U.S. exports to create jobs.
“It’s strong aerospace companies like these in Colorado that form the foundation of an industry that is growing right here in America. These manufacturers make innovative, high-quality products that are in demand around the world, and they are helping drive economic growth by expanding their exports,” Sánchez said at the roundtable hosted by Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation. “The International Trade Administration is doing all we can to encourage markets around the world to buy products that are made in America, and to ensure that American goods and services are sold everywhere.”
Following the roundtable, Sánchez toured the Ball Aerospace manufacturing facility in Boulder. He also toured the Sierra Nevada Corporations Space Systems facility in Louisville, Colo.
Strengthening aerospace industry exports has been identified as a priority under President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI). The aerospace industry contributed nearly $50 billion in export sales to the U.S. economy in the first six months of 2012, and has the largest trade balance of any U.S. manufacturing industry thus far in 2012.
Sánchez’s visit to the Phoenix area on Tuesday also highlighted the important contribution the aerospace sector makes to the local and national economy. Sánchez delivered remarks at an aerospace industry roundtable, and toured the Kaiser Aluminum Alexco and Nivisys Corporation facilities. He recognized both firms’ export successes with U.S. Department of Commerce Export Achievement Certificates. Aerospace products and parts exports rank second among Arizona merchandise exports through June 2012, totaling nearly $2.4 billion. Arizona is the 10th largest exporter of these products in the United States during the first six months of 2012.
On Monday, Sánchez launched his “Made in America” tour in Las Vegas, where he joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to announce a collaboration to develop an online resource that will showcase domestic suppliers of apparel, textiles, and footwear. U.S. textile and apparel exports exceeded $22.4 billion in 2011 – an increase of 35 percent from 2009 – and directly supports nearly 400,000 jobs.
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International Trade Administration
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