CRI听力:US Exports to China Booms

The US-China Business Council annual report on US State exports shows the flow of goods to China hit a recording-breaking 103.9 billion dollars last year.

The report contends exports to China are vital to the United States economic health, and create good jobs for American workers.

Marc Ross is the head of communications for the US-China Business Council.

"More and more agricultural products are being shipped to China. A third of US soybeans for example are now being sent to China, which is very exciting. So, agriculture is a huge industry in the US. That has been the fastest growing products in the last few years. Another exciting growth is the transportation equipment: auto motors, airplanes equipment. That actually increased last year by 2.6 billion dollars. That's very exciting because a lot of those jobs are high-paying jobs. It requires a lot of high-tech expertise to make these high value products."

More noticeably, China is the United States' third largest export market, coming behind only Canada and Mexico, the two neighboring countries inter-woven with the US in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

According to the report, 48 states have registered at least triple-digit export growth to China since 2000.

Ross notes this is far outpacing growth in state exports to the rest of the world.

"It's interesting that come out of this report that thirty states now, more than half of the US states, China is at least in the top three export markets. That is really exciting 'cause you'll see more and more states across the country benefit from trade with China. I think the other exciting thing is that for some cases, China could be potentially passing Mexico in the next few years if things continue before."

Despite the substantial increase in exports to China in the last two years, the United States still lags behind the European Union, Japan and South Korea.

Marc Ross with the US-China Business Council says their report has some suggestions for law makers.

"We think more should be done and in our report we recommend a greater role for the Export-Import Bank. And encourage state and local leaders spend more time with their colleagues at the provincial and municipal level to find ways to create economic development. And we've been very support to these activities and I think it's really important whenever we can find a chance for different folks to meet and engage in US and China. It really helps our commercial relations."

For CRI, I am Xiao Hong in Washington.