Many nations have built economies on exportation of goods and services. Consider Japan's economy. Japan is a nation that has relatively few natural resources. Yet, it has learned to be an extremely effective global producer of many manufactured items, like automobiles. The Clinton administration targets exports as one of the major means of creating jobs for U.S. citizens.
Governments assign a different priority for exports.
The U.S. perspective targets exports as one of the chief components for building a sound economy for the new millenium. Realizing the need for economic integration, nations are forming levels of economic integration sponsored by the World Trade Organization. These levels of economic integration are designed to encourage nations to expand the exportation and importation of goods and services, thereby increasing levels of competition in the native economy. When nations increase the amount and diversity of exported goods and services, additional job opportunities are created in the native economy. A nation's standard of living may also increase as a result of the economic integration.