Ambassador Kirk’s travels this week take him to Memphis, Tennessee. Nicknamed the Volunteer State, Tennessee's vibrant exporting economy supports jobs and grows businesses in the region.
From medical instruments to machinery and electronics, Tennessee has seen substantial growth in exports in recent years.
The state exported over $20 billion in 2009, more than doubling its international sales over a decade. The Memphis metropolitan area alone exported more than $9 billion in goods in 2008. This impressive increase is a testament to the growing export capacity of Tennessee and the entire United States.
Growth in export sales helps build larger and more secure businesses and these businesses drive job creation and support workers across the state. More than 160,000 jobs are estimated to be supported by goods exports from Tennessee.
Ambassador Kirk’s visit to the state this week will highlight the tremendous growth Tennessee has shown in producing and exporting goods – like a 500 percent jump in the exports of assorted manufactured goods, and its position as the eighth-largest state to export cotton and linters.
USTR and President Obama believe that a strong economic future will require a retooling of American goods and a renewed position in the world. The Volunteer State is rising to the challenge, exporting to new and emerging markets and expanding its contributions to the world economies, all of which help to support local workers and businesses.
Tennessee’s efforts are supported by USTR’s continued work to secure open trading opportunities and ensure a fair marketplace for American companies.
