Air cargo plays vital role in U.S. export agenda

The U.S Secretary of Transportation told delegates at the 26th International Air Cargo Forum & Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia last week that a healthy air cargo industry is essential in helping the U.S. government achieve its goal of doubling U.S exports by 2015.

According to Ray LaHood, DOT is doing its part to build a transportation system that supports President Obama’s export goal. This includes the recent creation of a new Freight Policy Council, a high level and multi-modal internal body that will help to develop a national plan to improve freight movement. In addition, he said the new “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century” transportation bill signed into law this summer by President Obama gives DOT $1.75 billion for its TIFIA loan program that can be put to work to improve the nation’s intermodal freight network.

As reported here, President Obama set out a five-year goal to double U.S. exports by 2015. That was two years ago.

Presently, air cargo now accounts for 31 percent of the total value of U.S. exports

LaHood added that the DOT is working hard to secure “additional market openings for U.S. cargo companies around the world, but there is considerable work left to be done:

“We know that some foreign governments are still practicing protectionism…to the detriment of many.”