国际英语新闻：Obama administration vows to redouble efforts to boost export

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Obama administration on Wednesday vowed again to redouble efforts to boost export, a move aimed to help support or create 2 million American jobs.

"We can be encouraged by U.S. exports of goods and services increasing in December for an eighth consecutive month," said U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in a statement.

Locke's department earlier on Wednesday reported that the U.S. export rose 3.3 percent to 142.7 billion dollars in December, the biggest percentage increase since March 2007.

"It is critical we redouble our efforts to increase our competitiveness and meet President (Barack) Obama's goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years to spur economic growth and support jobs at home," said Locke in the statement.

"The administration's National Export Initiative (NEI) is focused on expanding trade advocacy, improving access to credit, and removing trade barriers that prevent fair access to foreign markets," he added.

Last week, the Obama administration unveiled a broad initiative to boost export in an effort to help soothe the nation's unemployment. The NEI represents the first time that the United States will have a government-wide export-promotion strategy with focused attention from the president and his cabinet, according to Locke.