U.S. exports of advanced
technology products (ATP) fared better than other non-advanced technology
exports during the recent U.S.
recession, says a new report from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
NSF’s National
Center for Science and
Engineering Statistics reports that ATP exports fell from $270 billion in 2008
to $245 billion in 2009. But this 9% drop was less than half the decline of non
ATP exports.
ATP exports embody new or leading edge breakthroughs in science and
technology including drugs developed from gene therapy, nuclear resonance
imaging, micro integrated circuits, robotics, advanced materials, and civilian
and military satellites.
The finding results from U.S. Census Bureau data taken from ATP trade in the
10 ATP technology areas defined by the agency with a focus on four technology
areas: aerospace, electronics, information and communications technology, and
life science. Together these four areas account for 85% of U.S. ATP exports in
2010.
NSF’s report, titled “U.S. Exports of Advanced Technology Products
Declined Less Than Other U.S. Exports in 2009,” also says U.S. ATP exports
recovered in 2010 but lagged behind the growth of non-ATP exports. In 2010,
U.S. ATP exports improved by 11% as compared to 2009, but other types of U.S. exports
expanded at 23%, twice the rate of ATP exports.
The InfoBrief also describes U.S. ATP trade with selected major economies
and regions. It says the 2009 decline of U.S. ATP exports was steeper for Asia as compared to those destined for the European Union
and the North American Free Trade Agreement zone.
Exports to Asia fell from $94 billion in
2008 to $79 billion in 2009; at 15%, it was the largest decline among the three
regions. According to NSF’s report, the decline was driven by a drop in
electronics exports to Asia, the most important export market for U.S. advanced
technology products, and a drop in information and communications technology
exports.
During the period of 2008 to 2009, U.S. ATP exports to Japan, South Korea,
and Taiwan declined steeply (between 19 and 29%), but exports to China saw
little change. In 2010, however, U.S.
exports to Asia grew faster than U.S. exports to the other two
regions.
For more information from this report, see the NCSES InfoBrief NSF
11-307.
