September 17, 2013
News Release 13-090
Inv. No. 332-345
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

USITC RELEASES SHIFTS IN U.S.MERCHANDISE TRADE 2012

Merchandise Trade Deficit Up 1 percent, Imports Up 3 percent, Exports Up 4 percent As Macroeconomic Shocks in Key Economies Limit Global Trade 2012

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2012, an annual compendium of data and analysis examining changes in trade with key U.S. partners and in important U.S. industries, was released today by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).

The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, fact-finding federal agency, releases the information in a web-based format that provides details and reasons for key shifts in trade and that can be searched by country or industry sector.

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2012 can be accessed at http://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/tradeshifts/2012/index.htm.

Users will find a comprehensive review of U.S. trade performance in 2012, focusing on changes in U.S. exports, imports, and trade balances of agricultural and manufacturing industries, key natural resources, as well as changes in U.S. trade with major partners and country groups. Also included are profiles of the U.S. industry and market for over 250 industry groups and subgroups, offering data for 2008-12 on consumption, production, and trade.

The report examines:

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2012 is also available as a CD-ROM. Users can obtain the CD-ROM version through the "Order CD-ROM" link on the USITC web site or by calling 202-205-2000, or by writing to the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.

# # #