But our export sector is not growing as rapidly as it should. New York is a major player in world trade. We're the nation's third largest source of merchandise export sales. New York City, Rochester, Long Island and Buffalo are among the nation's top 50 areas for merchandise exports.
Exports support one out of every five manufacturing jobs in the state.
Manufacturing export employment in New York is 185,500, up 8.5 percent in four years. Including service-sector jobs, the total payroll related to manufacturing export activity was 382,700 as of 1996. To capture our fair share of export jobs, we must keeping improving New York's business climate. But New York's political leadership must also become involved in U.S. trade policy.