Question about US exports

[Kenneth ken]

I keep reading that a weaker dollar will help US exports, but I'm not exacty sure what those are.

Does Nike count as an exportable product? Since they don't actually manufacure in the US, I don't see how that really could be seen as a positive effect; it's isn't as though they're going to hire US workers to help produce more shoes to meet their increased "export" demand.

Also, I know we export agricultural products, but between GMO and our laxity in slaughterhouse oversite, will lower prices really raise demand for these products significantly?

I'm not sure what else we export; jobs seems to be top of the list.

Thanks!

[Massacure]

1. Nike shoes are an imported product

A weak dollar is bad for imported products, unless it is China. China's currency is pegged to the dollar.

[Kenneth ken]

3. thanks

that was how I would classify them; but who knows with the bizarro-logic of the US corporate system.

:hi:

[DebJ]

2. I think our major export is : JOBS!

[Kenneth ken]

4. we're in agreement there. n/t

[Robert Oak]

5. good point

Since there isn't that much exported anymore and so much imported
and the shipped out the jobs and the manufacturing facilities...

I don't think this is going to help a hell of a lot.

US cars are more "foreign" that "foreign" cars in terms of manufacture,
software is now an import (4 years ago a major export).

To me the whole weakening of the dollar is very frightening and
so far I feel the rhetoric is just that...

another 'oh don't worry this is good for America', when clearly
by any sane economic analysis this is not.

[Kenneth ken]

6. replying to my own question

I went searching for information, and got this bit:

"The World Trade Organization has consistently ruled that a current tax benefit for U.S. exports (called "FSC-ETI") violates our trade obligations. As a result, the EU is imposing 12 percent tariffs on many of the most sensitive U.S. exports including, steel, agriculture, livestock, wood and paper products, jewelry, appliances and electronics."

from this op-ed piece (written by a Bill Thomas Republican Congress-person, and Chairman of House Ways & Means) in support of the legislation they passed giving something like $120 Bn in tax credits to business in order to end the WTO violations penalties.

Washington Times Op-Ed

I'm not advocating the piece, or the source, but at least it does name products that are apparently US exports. If true, it still amounts to a pretty meager list of goods a weaker dollar will help.

[Sorwen]

7. here's some data

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/index.html

U.S. exports totaled $1 trillion in 2003 while imports totaled $1.5 trillion.