Study: Large U.S. shippers extend export reach

Study: Large U.S. shippers extend export reach    A study released by the Washington-based Coalition for Employment Through Exports (CEE) underscores the dependency of large U.S. international companies on more than 33,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, and the extensive reach of export sales and Export-Import Bank financing.
   Release of the 2011 Supplier Study coincides with a House Financial Services Committee's international monetary policy and trade subcommittee hearing Thursday on the role of the Ex-Im Bank in U.S. competitiveness and job creation.
   'What our study further sheds light on is how central small and medium-sized suppliers are in providing inputs to large U.S. companies and the important role they play in helping to increase U.S. exports,' said CEE President John Hardy Jr.
   'With Ex-Im Bank reauthorization on the agenda this year, it will be critical for Congress to find ways to increase the Bank's competitiveness with respect to other export credit agencies around the world, to ensure that companies large and small can maximize their export potential and create high value jobs,' he said.
   The study is based on the supplier lists of five CEE member companies’ Ex-Im Bank financed transactions from the past few years, including GE, Boeing, Case New Holland, Bechtel and Siemens. A total of 33,404 suppliers, which are located in every state and congressional district, provide inputs to these five companies.
   'As this study makes clear, small businesses benefit from the bank's financing of export projects sought by large companies, which helps to bolster economic growth and encourage job creation in every congressional district across the country,' said Nicole Westin, CEE director of government relations. 'Nearly 95 percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States, which is why aggressive policies aimed at increasing U.S. market access and promoting U.S. exports are necessary for the economic vitality of both SMEs and large companies.'
   CEE released the first report in its Supplier Study series in 2001. The original study showed that more than 30,000 SMEs were 'invisible' exporters of goods and services as suppliers to just six large U.S. companies that export their goods and services around the world. ' Chris Gillis