WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement today on the release of the June 2013 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Servicesdata. U.S. exports of goods and services grew to $191.2 billion, from $187.1 billion in May, with monthly exports reaching an all-time record. In fact, monthly exports records were seen in both the total goods and total services categories. Capital goods reached record levels in June, while the largest monthly increase was seen in industrial supplies.
In the first six months of 2013, exports totaled $1.12 trillion, putting the U.S. on track for another record-setting year. Imports of goods and services to the United States decreased by $13.1 billion in the last six months. As a result, the trade deficit decreased by $36.1 billion over the last half year.
Since President Obama launched the National Export Initiative (NEI) in 2010, an ambitious plan to sell more American goods and services to foreign markets, the United States has seen an increase of 1.3 million export-supported jobs. The NEI is the first President-led, government-wide export promotion strategy. Through the initiative’s focus on improving trade advocacy, reducing barriers and enforcing trade rules, U.S. exports have continued to grow.
“Export data from the first half of 2013 show that the United States is on track to exceed last year’s totals, with June exports hitting an all-time record,” said Secretary Pritzker. “Our efforts are paying off for America’s workers, farmers and ranchers, manufacturers and service providers, and innovators and investors. Today, we sell more products made in America to the rest of the world than ever before, and we will continue to do everything we can to assist U.S. exporters and help create new jobs for American workers.”
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