07.12.13

Cantwell: New Report Shows 22% Increase in Seattle Metro Exports

International Trade Administration reports Seattle metro area #5 in country for exports

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration released a report showing a 22 percent increase in the value of exports from the Seattle metropolitan area from 2011 to 2012.

“This is great news for our trade economy,” said Cantwell. “Trade is a cornerstone of economic growth and job creation in the Seattle region and across our state. From apples to airplanes, Washington state products are in demand around the world. This new report underscores why we must continue to invest in Washington’s trade economy. More Washington exports means more Washington jobs.”

According to the report, 2012 merchandise exports from the Seattle metropolitan area, which also included Bellevue and Tacoma, totaled $50.3 billion – up $9.2 billion from 2011. This makes the area the 5th largest metropolitan export market in the nation. More information from the report can be found here and here.

The Commerce Department works with American businesses to identify export opportunities for their products and services to bolster the President’s National Export Initiative (NEI), which aims to double U.S. exports by the end of 2014. Since the launch of NEI, merchandise exports from metropolitan areas have increased nearly 40 percent. Nationally, jobs supported by exports have increased by more than 60 percent since 2009.

Cantwell – who serves on the Senate Commerce and Finance committees – is a strong supporter of Washington state’s export economy. She was a leader in championing the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which supports approximately 83,000 jobs at Washington state exporters. Cantwell also championed the recent passage of free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Columbia.

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