Gov Walker: Wisconsin’s Exports Are Growing

The state partnered with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association to produce and distribute brief radio address once a week.  Audio files and a written transcript of this radio address can be accessed on http://www.wi-broadcasters.org and http://walker.wi.gov/Weekly-Radio-Addresses.  To download an mp3 file, you can right click the radio address link and click “save link as."

Hi, this is Scott Walker.

This week the Wisconsin the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation released figures for Wisconsin’s exports through the first half of 2012. And they had great news to report. 

Wisconsin exported $1.5 billion worth of agricultural products to over 132 countries, which is an increase of 5 percent over first six months of 2011.  Over the same time, U.S. exports of agricultural products totaled $77 billion—a decrease of 4 percent. 

Wisconsin’s total exports grew by 7.9 percent in the second quarter of 2012, with specific increases in the exports of industrial machinery, agricultural products, vehicles and medical and scientific instruments.  Wisconsin exports totaled $11.6 billion in the first quarter of 2012. 

The production of Wisconsin’s economy is strong, which is demonstrated by the growth of exports.  This data is encouraging and signals products made by Wisconsin’s private sector economy are valued all across the world.

While we work to overcome an underperforming national economy, these figures are good news for the residents of our state.  Unlike the failed economic policies being currently pursued at the federal level, we will continue to foster a pro-growth environment in Wisconsin to get government out of the way, so private sector employers can create jobs.