Consider three countries: 1) In Country 1, imports of goods and services are 29 percent the size of the country’s overall economy. 2) In Country 2, imports are 22 percent the size of the country’s economy. 3) In Country 3, imports are 14 percent the size of the country’s economy. Which of these countries relies the most on imports?
The President’s recognition in last night’s Fox News interview that exports play an important role in bolstering U.S. economic performance was welcome, but missed at least half of the trade story. Imports benefit America, too, through lower prices to consumers and manufacturers that raise incomes and boost productivity and competitiveness. The President promised a thorough review America’s trade policy over the first half of 2009 and a new road map for U.S. trade relations this summer – a promise that remains unfulfilled as the year comes to a close. The …
