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For Immediate Release
Contacts in Washington, DC:
John Frisbie (jfrisbie@uschina.org), Erin Ennis (eennis@uschina.org)
202-429-0340

Exports to China by Congressional District: Widespread Growth in 2008

Global Economic Downturn Requires Coordinated
US, China Policies to Restore Trade and Jobs

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2009 - Congressional districts all across the country again increased their exports to China during 2008, according to the third annual survey of districts' exports by the US-China Business Council (USCBC).

"Despite the global economic downturn in the second half of last year, 85 percent of congressional districts increased their exports to China in 2008," John Frisbie, USCBC president, said.

The analysis, undertaken by the Trade Partnership (http://www.tradepartnership.com/), quantifies exports to China from 2000--the year before China joined the World Trade Organization--through 2008 from every congressional district in the 111th Congress.

For details on district-by-district data, see http://www.uschina.org/public/exports/congressional/2000_2008/.

Highlights from the report:

Repeating comments made when USCBC's state export report was released in March, Frisbie highlighted that US exports to China and other markets around the world dropped significantly in the fourth quarter of 2008 because of the global economic downturn, underscoring the importance of coordinated efforts to revitalize national economies and stimulate trade. These export declines have continued into the first few months of 2009.

"Exports mean jobs," Frisbie said. "US manufacturing and agricultural exports to China have jumped more than 340 percent so far this decade, far outpacing the 60 percent growth in our exports to the rest of the world during this time. The rapid increase in exports to China is reflected in local economies across the country, as this report shows, and I expect this trend will continue when economies rebound. "

"In the meantime, we need to work with China and other countries to restore trade growth as quickly as possible and support jobs for American workers," Frisbie added. "The US-China Business Council is pleased that the Obama administration will address these issues with China at the Strategic and Economic Dialogue in late July in Washington, DC."

USCBC issued China trade policy recommendations in January, which can be found at http://www.uschina.org/public/documents/2009/china_policy_recommendations.pdf.

To provide more information on who is benefiting from trade with China, USCBC is combining the latest report with local news stories on companies doing business with China. To access the export data and news clips, go to http://www.uschina.org/public/exports/congressional/2000_2008/ and click on any state to see the information available by state and district.

"The addition of news stories gives a local face to the export data and shows how American companies large and small are dealing with the opportunities and challenges of doing business with China," said Frisbie.

The district export report is the latest in a series of analyses by the USCBC intended to help inform the debate about trade with China. The USCBC released an analysis of US exports to China by US state earlier this year. Previous releases are available at http://www.uschina.org/tradefacts/.

The USCBC (www.uschina.org) is the leading organization of US companies engaged in business with the People's Republic of China. Founded in 1973, the USCBC provides extensive China-focused information, advisory, and advocacy services, along with events, to roughly 220 US corporations operating within the United States and throughout Asia.