U.S. exports slip again in November

The Commerce Department reported U.S. exports of goods and services for November decreased to $182.2 billion from $183.8 billion in October.    The Commerce Department reported U.S. exports of goods and services for November decreased to $182.2 billion from $183.8 billion in October.
   Gains were seen in U.S. exports of business services; telecommunication, computer and information services; and insurance, but the country’s monthly export values have cooled in the second half of 2015.
   “[November’s] trade data shows the trade deficit reached its lowest level since February [2015]. However, global economic headwinds continue to impact U.S. companies competing in the global marketplace,” said Stefan M. Selig, Commerce’s undersecretary for international trade, in a statement. 
   The Obama administration continues to promote the benefits of comprehensive trade agreements, such as Trans-Pacific Partnership and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, for U.S. exporters. 
   “Exporters in every sector of the U.S. economy increasingly realize that the cost to the U.S. economy of delaying TPP will be billions of dollars lost to our foreign competitors,” U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said in a statement Wednesday. “Working with congressional leaders, we will continue to work for passage of TPP as soon as possible to ensure that the economic benefits…are not delayed.”