Exports

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 11, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 70 U.S. trade organizations received more than $234 million in Fiscal Year 2009 to help promote American food and agricultural products overseas. Vilsack made this announcement at the annual convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.

"Agricultural trade is absolutely crucial to the U.S. economy and by providing this funding to U.S. organizations during these difficult economic times will help open new global markets for American food products," said Vilsack.

The funding announced today was allocated under the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program, both administered by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.    » read more »

Washington, Nov. 2, 2009 - The Office of the United States Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture today released a brief statement regarding Taiwan's announcement on the import of American beef. The following statement is from Carol Guthrie, Assistant United States Trade Representative for Public Affairs, and Chris Mather, USDA Director of Communications:    » read more »

New bill by key Senators to reinvigorate ‘Super 301’ authority for U.S. agency

Washington, DC (Nov. 3, 2009) – Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW) today announced strong support for the ‘Trade Enforcement Priorities Act of 2009’ (S. 1982) introduced by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) that would breakdown foreign barriers for exports to help create American jobs.    » read more »

Clean Energy Partnership, Export Opportunities

November 3, 2009 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has concluded a successful round of meetings in Beijing as part of the Administration’s ongoing strategic effort to strengthen the state’s long-term economy by promoting Hawaii as a visitor destination to China’s growing outbound tourism market, developing export opportunities for Hawaii products and services and forming partnerships in clean energy.

Beijing was the first stop on the Governor’s six-city tour to promote economic development opportunities for Hawaii with one of the world’s most important emerging economies. Pictures are available at www.hawaii.gov/gov or by request.

Encouraging Chinese Tourism    » read more »

October 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke proposed reforms to modernize America’s export controls system, which will enhance national security and increase the competitiveness of U.S. companies, in a speech at the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Update Conference on Export Controls today. The United States export control system seeks to prevent sensitive items from falling into the hands of those who seek to do us harm.    » read more »

October 5, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today met with Nashua-area business owners to discuss the rewards and challenges of exporting New Hampshire-made products overseas. The discussion took place at Sky-Skan, Inc., a manufacturer of digital planetarium and digital theater instruments that has successfully expanded its business and workforce by tapping into overseas markets.

"Exporting products and services to international markets will help New Hampshire's economy grow during the economic crisis," said Shaheen. "Small and medium sized businesses will benefit greatly from exporting their products overseas, and we must continue to help these businesses access the resources and financing necessary for them to succeed."    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- Dearborn, MI—Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) made the following statement regarding the announcement that the U.S. has filed a World Trade Organization complaint against China for its export restraints on raw materials. The export restraints provide Chinese companies with an unfair competitive advantage over U.S. companies. Senator Stabenow has been leading the fight to hold accountable countries that practice unfair trade. Earlier this year, she introduced the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act of 2009 and is currently working on legislation that would expand our resources for trade enforcement.    » read more »

Snowe Introduces Critical Legislation To Increase Small Business Exporting

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, introduced legislation this week to help small businesses expand into foreign markets. The Small Business Export Opportunity Act of 2009 (S. 1208) would strengthen and improve export financing programs within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to better assist American entrepreneurs expand their businesses overseas, compete in international markets and create new, good-paying jobs.    » read more »

May 21, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Dick Lugar joined 16 other Republican and Democratic Senators on a bill introduced yesterday easing U.S. trade restrictions to Cuba, the Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009, S. 1089. The bill would help U.S. farmers and ranchers export their products to Cuba by allowing timely and direct cash payments for agricultural goods.

The bill also requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. Additionally, the bill lifts the current travel ban, allowing U.S. citizens and legal residents to travel to Cuba, and it eases restrictions on exports of medicines and medical devices.    » read more »

Allocations for Dairy Export Incentive Program will Level Playing Field for U.S. Dairy Exports

5/22/09 -- Washington, D.C. – Wisconsin’s U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl announced today that the USDA has agreed to their request to fully utilize the Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP) that will help level the playing field for U.S. dairy exports. Feingold and Kohl asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to utilize the DEIP program in January of this year.    » read more »

Crapo says Idaho agriculture could reap benefits

May 20, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Idaho agriculture could benefit from better trade opportunities with Cuba under legislation introduced by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and a large bipartisan group of co-sponsors in the Senate.

Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, joined with Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) to introduce the Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009.    » read more »

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - 18 May 2009: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and FXA Group today announced a first of a kind collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and the Vietnamese State Agency for Technological Innovation (SATI) that will accelerate the adoption of traceability solutions to improve global food safety.    » read more »

March 10, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today that Wisconsin’s exports increased by 9.2 percent to a $20.6 billion in 2008. Wisconsin now ranks as the 18th-largest exporting state, compared to its 21st largest rank in 2006. Since Governor Doyle took office, exports have increased by 92 percent.

“Wisconsin companies aggressively pursued overseas markets and drove our exports to record levels despite a global economic slowdown,” Governor Doyle said. “As Governor, I’m committed to doing all I can to support a climate that encourages success for our exporters.”    » read more »

February 23, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced Monday that Alabama exports grew to almost $16 billion in 2008, an increase of 10 percent from the year before.

“Alabama companies have proven they know how to compete in the global market. That means more jobs for our citizens, higher wages and a stronger economy for our state,” said Governor Riley. “The more aggressive and proactive we are in exporting, the more successful Alabama is going to be.”

The Governor announced the value of Alabama-produced exports reached $15.8 billion last year. Companies in the state shipped their products to 192 countries, with the top five destination markets being Germany, Canada, Mexico, China and Japan.    » read more »

Feb. 2, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – The value of Pennsylvania’s annual exports increased 20 percent last year, said Governor Edward G. Rendell today as he cited the latest federal figures showing the value of exports has doubled since the start of his administration.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania exports increased from $15.3 billion in 2002 to $32 billion in 2008. Pennsylvania is the 11th largest exporting state with the fastest growing export sectors, including petroleum products, coal, iron and steel alloys, vehicles, aircrafts, scrap metal and machinery.    » read more »