U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke Keynotes District Export Council Conference to Highlight Importance of Exporting

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke delivered the keynote address during the National District Export Council (DEC) Conference today at the Department of Commerce to highlight the administration’s commitment to an aggressive export promotion strategy and to underscore the department’s top trade priorities: increasing exports for small and medium-size businesses; making American companies more competitive in foreign markets; capitalizing on promising new industries; and improving advocacy abroad to discourage unfair competitive practices.

This year’s theme, “Global Competitiveness and the Opportunities for U.S. Exporters,” focused on company survival and growth in today’s economy through exporting. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills, and Export-Import Bank Chairman and President Fred Hochberg joined Locke at the conference.

Remarks