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Trade

View a full-size PDF of the Heartland Infographic.

Seaports connect American farmers, manufacturers and consumers to the world market. Trade policies and agreements that promote fair and equitable trade boost U.S. economic growth and increase Made-in-America exports. At least 95% of the world’s population and 80% of global consumption is located outside of the U.S.

In 2013 alone, more than two billion metric tons of foreign and domestic cargo worth $2.5 trillion moved through America’s seaports, which move 99.4% of all U.S. overseas cargo by weight and 64.1% by value. 

Every U.S. state relies on an average of 15 seaports to handle imports and exports totaling $3.8 billion worth of goods each day. For every additional $1 billion in U.S. exports, 15,000 jobs are created.

AAPA has a long history of supporting free trade with equity and fairness. AAPA works with its coalition partners to encourage Congress to support free and fair trade. 

Resources

Research from Third Way: Supply Chains and Value Chains, Explained

Research from the Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition: Strategic Competition Demands America Up Its Game in Maritime Commerce – May 8, 2023