September 2, 2010
News Release 10-098
Inv. No(s). 332-345
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Releases Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2009

Merchandise Trade Deficit Down 34 percent, Imports Down 26 percent, Exports Down 20 percent
As Worldwide Economic Downturn Cut Global Demand in 2009

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2009, an annual compendium of data and analysis examining changes in trade with key U.S. partners and in crucial U.S. industries, was released today by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).

The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, releases the information in a web-based format that focuses on reasons for key shifts in trade, provides more detail, and can be searched by country or commodity sector.

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2009 can be accessed at: http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4179.pdf.

Users will find a comprehensive review of U.S. trade performance in 2009, focusing on changes in U.S. exports, imports, and trade balances of key natural resources, agricultural, and manufacturing industries, as well as changes in U.S. trade with major partners and groups. Also included are profiles of the U.S. industry and market for over 250 industry/commodity groups and subgroups, offering data for 2005-09 on consumption, production, employment, and trade.

The report examines:

  • how trends in U.S. trade compare with trends in other major industrialized countries;

  • what the United States exported to China and what it imported in return; and

  • how increasing energy prices affected U.S. trade.

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2009 is also available as a CD-ROM. Users can obtain the CD-ROM version through the "Order CD-ROM" link on the 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. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

-- 30 --

# # #