Course Textbook: https://scholar.flatworldknowledge.com/books/34695/read.

Assignment: Import - Export Data

The United States Bureau of the Census tracks foreign trade statistics. Visit the site at: www.census.gov/foreign-trade Find the most recent version of the "Profile of U.S. Importing and Exporting Companies". Peruse the report and address the following questions:

Exports:

1. What types of firms export from the United States? That is, what is the breakdown by company type of U.S. exporters? Are they mainly large or small firms? Do they operate mainly in the manufacturing, agricultural, or service sectors?

2. What is the role of small and medium-sized exporters in U.S. trade? What percent of U.S. exporters are SMEs and for what proportion of total exports do they account?

3. What countries are the three top targets for U.S. exporters? What factors make these countries the top markets for U.S. exports?

4. Identify the percent change (%) in U.S. exports from 2018-2019 (use the "known value" of exports) for the top 5 countries? Outside of the top 5 countries, which countries saw the biggest percentage increase? Which saw the biggest % decrease? What was the effect on U.S. companies (# of exporters) for each countries identified?

Imports:

5. What types of firms import from the United States? That is, what is the breakdown by company type of U.S. importers? Are they mainly large or small firms? Do they operate mainly in the manufacturing, agricultural, or service sectors?

6. What is the role of small and medium-sized importers in U.S. trade? What percent of U.S. importers are SMEs and for what proportion of total exports do they account?

7. What countries are the three top sources for U.S. importers? What factors make these countries the primary suppliers of U.S. imports?

8. Identify the percent change (%) in U.S. imports from 2018-2019 (use the "known value" of exports) for the top 5 countries. Outside of the top 5 countries, from which countries was there: -the biggest percentage increase? - biggest % decrease? What was the effect on U.S. companies (# of exporters) for each of the countries identified?

Visit the following site and view the 'full timeline' for a glimpse of U.S. trade policy enactments beginning in mid-2018. https://taxfoundation.org/tariffs-trump-trade-war/

9. What was the motivation for the U.S. trade policy changes under President Trump, as stated in the press (cite your source)? How do the stated motives align with the reasons for government intervention in trade presented in ch 2 of your text ("why do governments intervene in trade?").

10. Based on the data in the U.S. Census report, how would you evaluate the effect of the U.S. trade policy (whether announced/threatened or actually imposed between 2018-2019) on U.S. trade (imports and exports)? Justify your answer.