Commerce Secretary pledges to help states seek export markets

Washington » Few states can match Utah’s rapid increase in exports in recent years — and during this recession, no state has better maintained its trade with foreign nations.

But for the Obama administration, success stories in individual states, such as Utah, Minnesota and Washington, are not enough. During his State of the Union address, the president called for a full doubling of U.S. exports in the next five years.

To reach this goal, a team of officials led by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke plans to piggy back on state efforts and literally act as an agent, connecting foreign buyers with U.S. companies.

"We want to be your on-the-ground advocate and salesperson" Locke said in a roundtable interview with regional reporters, including The Salt Lake Tribune . "We in the Commerce Department are going to do a much better job at matchmaking."

By Matt Canham

The Salt Lake Tribune

Full Story: http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_14343824