The U.S. depends on deep-draft harbors to be competitive in international trade and to keep the price of imported goods as inexpensive as possible. Many of the United States' export products, which compete internationally at very narrow margins, rely on deep-draft ports to achieve economies of scale in terms of transportation costs. Such export products include coal, grains, and fertilizers. The cost of imported goods is also extremely sensitive to transportation costs and benefit from well constructed deep-draft harbors. For example, the nation's number one import, oil, relies on deep-water ports for safe and efficient water transportation.
Public ports generate significant local and regional economic growth, including job creation.
The American Association of Port Authorities was founded in 1912 and today represents more than 140 public port authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, the Association represents over 200 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in the seaports of the Western Hemisphere. AAPA port members are public entities mandated by law to serve public purposes. Port authorities facilitate waterborne commerce and contribute to local, regional and national economic growth.