New Study Reveals Imports Support 16 Million U.S. Jobs

Arlington, VA – – The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) ® today joined with three other business organizations to release an economic impact study titled Imports Work for America, which finds that more than 16 million U.S. jobs depend on imports.

“In today’s global supply chain, American jobs, especially in the CE industry, depend on the ability to import as well as to export. America’s tech industry is one of the most advanced in the world, because we use imports help us do what we do best – innovate. A market that is friendly not just to exports, but also to imports, helps drive innovation and jobs, which in turn leads to the products consumers want for work and play,” said Sage Chandler, CEA’s senior director, trade.

The Consumer Electronics Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation, and the American Apparel & Footwear Association commissioned the study, which was prepared by Laura M. Baughman and Dr. Joseph F. Francois of Trade Partnership Worldwide, LLC. Among the key findings:


-Imports improve American families’ standard of living by ensuring a wide selection of budget-friendly goods from clothing and footwear to electronics and fresh fruits and vegetables.
-Imports support more than 16 million American jobs. A large number of these import-related jobs are union jobs, and many are held by minorities and women.
-More than half the firms that import directly are small businesses, employing fewer than 50 workers.
- American manufacturers and farmers rely on imports of raw materials and intermediate goods to lower their production costs and stay competitive in domestic and international markets. Factories and farms purchase more than 60 percent of U.S. imports.
-Imports generate exports. The United States is integrated into international supply chains so that even U.S. imports contain U.S. exports, particularly those generated in high-skilled and capital-intensive stages of production such as R&D and design.

The study employed a widely used computable general equilibrium economic model known as the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), which is maintained by a consortium of more than 30 international organizations and government agencies, including the U.S. International Trade Commission, World Trade Organization, OECD, World Bank, and several U.S. government agencies.

About CEA

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $209 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org, www.DeclareInnovation.com and through