NAM: Export control proposals will boost economic growth and jobs

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) president and CEO John Engler issued a statement on December 9 following the Obama Administration’s announcement on export controls:  

“Manufacturers are pleased the Administration listened to the business community and is moving forward with the most sweeping export control reform in the last 50 years. The NAM and our member companies, joined by our coalition partners, have led the broad, multi-industry push to modernize our country’s outdated system of export controls. The President’s announcement embraces key NAM recommendations that are outlined in our Blueprint for a 21st Century Export Control Regime. These proposed changes will strengthen national security, improve U.S. competitiveness, and increase export opportunities for manufacturers. The President outlined reforms that will streamline the process, assess foreign availability, institute a new licensing mechanism, seek significant input from manufacturers, and focus limited government resources on truly sensitive items. Implementing these changes will create a more efficient, transparent and effective export control system with the potential to spur economic growth and job creation. These reforms will also allow the government to erect higher walls around the most sensitive items in order to enhance national security.

“Continuing to work to reform export controls is absolutely critical to achieving the President’s goal of doubling exports and achieving economic growth. The Milken Institute’s Jobs for America report found that modernizing U.S. export controls could increase exports in high-value areas and enhance real GDP by $64.2 billion, create 160,000 manufacturing jobs and heighten total employment by 340,000 jobs by 2019. Manufacturers have long been pushing for fundamental reform of export controls and have outlined its importance in our Manufacturing Strategy for Jobs and a Competitive America – a comprehensive plan for supporting jobs and the U.S. manufacturing economy, as well as our Blueprint to Double Exports in Five Years. Today’s announcement is very positive news. We look forward to continuing to work with the Administration and Congress on ways to make additional improvements to enhance national security and expand our exports.”

For more detail on the Administration’s export control announcement, click here.

The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing has a presence in every single congressional district providing good, high-paying jobs. For more information, visit www.nam.org.