Obama’s export goals questioned

Dick Taffe — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:27:47 +0000

Although President Obama pledged in his State of the Union address to double U.S. export growth over the next five years to help create jobs, experts are saying that’s virtually impossible. International Relations Professor Kevin Gallagher, a specialist in globalization and development, says the only time U.S. exports ever doubled was when the Nixon administration raised import charges from 1969 to 1974 to protect manufacturing and trim the trade deficit.

“There is no way the administration would mimic that policy, as it would trigger a trade war and enrage many constituents at home.”

Contact Kevin Gallagher, 617-353-9348, kpg@bu.edu

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Obama’s export goals questioned