It’s not all gloom and doom in the U.S. economy - exports have been, and continue, to boom:

As the falling dollar has made U.S. products more affordable abroad, foreigners have been snapping up American aircraft, machinery, agricultural goods and other products at what amount to bargain rates. And that has resulted in a 5.5 percent annual rate of increase in exports in the first quarter of the year.

Although that pace lags behind the red-hot rates of the past two years, it has been critical in preventing the nation’s economic slowdown from slipping into negative-growth territory. The economy grew 0.6 percent in the first three months of the year, even as some sectors slowed sharply.
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Virginia’s export shipments totaled $16.9 billion in 2007, up 56 percent from 2003. Meanwhile, Maryland’s export shipments totaled $8.9 billion in 2007, an increase of 18 percent from the year before and 81 percent from 2003.

Big hat tip to ShopFloor.org, whose own chief economist is quoted in the article:

Dave Huether, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, called the hardening opposition to free trade misguided — especially at a time when exports were playing a significant role in keeping the economy afloat. While he said export growth could be headed for a patch during which it is not as strong as it has been in recent past, he also said the forecast is still for solid growth, making exports a “silver lining” in an otherwise gloomy economic outlook.

“What is happening now in the economy really shows why it is important for the U.S. economy to be engaged globally,” Huether said. “When there are slowdowns in certain parts of the domestic economy, it is a real benefit when there is another pillar holding things up.”

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