Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Statement on October 2009 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services

On the eve of his trip to Copenhagen, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke issued the following statement on the release of the October 2009 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Today’s report showed that U.S. exports increased by 2.6 percent to $136.8 billion since September 2009. Imports to the U.S. increased 0.4 percent to $169.8 billion. The trade deficit shrank 7.6 percent to $32.9 billion from a revised $35.7 in September.

“Despite the significant progress growing U.S. exports in October, today’s numbers remind us that much work remains to rebalance our trading relationships around the world,” Locke said. “What’s clear is that action by Congress to pass comprehensive climate change legislation will help get us there—by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, boosting exports and creating jobs in the fastest-growing sector of the $6 trillion worldwide energy market. Today, too many American businesses and investors are sitting on the sidelines waiting for regulatory certainty as competing countries make historic investments in the clean energy solutions that will drive tomorrow’s economy.”

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