The Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade has a developed
"TRACKING US TRADE" and the CSWHT TRADE INDEX for all those engaged in
tracking trade with the Western Hemisphere.
The CSWHT Trade Index is a part of our free trade news service,
"Tracking US Trade", and is available on the World Wide Web at URL:
http://lanic.utexas.edu/cswht/tradeindex.html
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TRACKING US TRADE: A TRADE NEWS SERVICE FOR THE AMERICAS
Released Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Western Hemispheric Trade Issues for June 1996:
* Total trade with Mexico for the first half of 1996 reached $56.8
billion (in constant 1990 dollars), a 15.7 percent increase over the first
half of 1995. Exports were up 17.7 percent over the same period. At the
height of the Mexican recession, U.S. exports had dropped by 13 percent in
the first half of 1995 compared to 1994. Recent figures indicate Mexico is
recovering.
* U.S. world trade in goods (exports plus imports) fell to $115.8
billion in June 1996, $4.4 billion less than the previous month's figure.
The fall in exports was outstripped by declines in imports, leading to a
decrease in the trade deficit.
* The drop in total trade was mirrored in the June figures for Canada
and Mexico (NAFTA trade down by nearly $1 billion) as well as for South and
Central America (down $394 million). This left the CSWHT NAFTA trade index
at 167.9 for June, down slightly from May but up 24.5 points since the
beginning of the year.
* Trade with NAFTA partners as a whole was up 7.3 percent in the
first half of 1996 ($190.7 billion) relative to the same period in 1995
($177.9 billion).
* The U.S. trade surplus with South and Central America improved
considerably in June to $537 million from $113 million in the previous
month. Total trade with Argentina and Brizil was up substantially in June
with exports outstripping imports by a total of $605.9 million for the two
largest economies in South America.
* In June the Western Hemisphere accounted for 37 percent of U.S.
trade worldwide. U.S. exports to the Western Hemisphere grew 6.2 percent
in the second quarter of 1996 over the same period the year before. This
compares to a 5.2 percent increase to the rest of the world.
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TRACKING US TRADE is distributed monthly by fax or e-mail.
To request your free monthly copy, call (512) 475-8679 or send an e-mail
to: jnordskog@mail.utexas.edu including the following information: 1)
name, 2) organization, 3) telephone, 4) fax and 5) e-mail address
The next issue of "Tracking US Trade" will be released on September 18, 1996.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Julie Nordskog, Research Associate
Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade
3925 W. Braker Lane Tel. (512) 475-8679
MCC Bldg., Ste. 1.900 Fax (512) 475-7966
Austin, TX 78758 e-mail: jnordskog@mail.utexas.edu
URL: http://lanic.utexas.edu/cswht/tradeindex.html
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Julie Nordskog-Mier, Research Associate
Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade
MCC Building, Suite 1.900
3925 West Braker Lane
Austin TX 78759
Telephone: 512-475-8679 Fax:512-475-7966
E-mail: jnordskog@mail.utexas.edu URL: http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/cswht
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