Washington, DC – A leading group of trade associations and organizations announced today that the second annual “Imports Work Week” will take place during the week of May 6-10, 2013. 

Imports Work Week is an effort to draw attention to the essential role that imports play in the U.S. and global economy.  For many years, May has been recognized as World Trade Month, with civic groups, business associations, and Democratic and Republican administrations seizing the opportunity to celebrate the important role of international trade in the U.S. economy.  Imports Work Week, which coincides with World Trade Month, is dedicated to discussing the value of imports in the trade equation.  

On each day during Imports Work Week, participants will highlight a different theme regarding how Imports Work for U.S. jobs, working families, manufacturers, and development.  In 2012, Imports Work Week featured events in Congress and at the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiating round in Dallas, Texas.  Numerous associations and think tanks participated in Imports Work Week by publishing commentaries and blog postings and issuing studies, along with other grassroots and social media activities.  These groups were joined by world leaders such as World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Pascal Lamy, who stated on the occasion of Imports Work Week, "To shoot at imports is to shoot yourself in the foot because you are undermining your exports as well. This is why we need a new narrative which recognizes that trade is about imports as well as exports." 

More information about Imports Work Week can be found at www.importswork.com or through Twitter at@importswork. 

The Coordinating Committee for Imports Work Week includes the following:

American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)

American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI)

Coalition for GSP

Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition (CITAC)

Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT)

Fashion Accessories Shippers Association (FASA)

Footwear Distributor and Retailers of America (FDRA)

International Wood Products Association (IWPA)

National Fisheries Institute

National Retail Federation (NRF)

Outdoor Industries Association (OIA)

Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Apparel Coalition

Travel Goods Association (TGA)

United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA)

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

U.S. Council for International Business

Washington Council for International Trade (WCIT)