Port Authorities say freight infrastructure can’t handle doubling exports

Members of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) testified yesterday at a U.S. Senate Finance subcommittee hearing that the most significant constraint faced by seaports for increasing U.S. exports is the capacity and efficiency of the nation’s freight transportation infrastructure. The Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness asked if U.S. seaports are ready to meet the goal set by President Obama of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years. According to the AAPA, while the ports have the capacity for higher volumes, the country’s highways, bridges, railroads, vessel navigation and marine terminal infrastructure are not up to the task.

The “transportation bottleneck” is one choice in the Datamyne one-question survey: What’s the biggest obstacle to exporting for U.S. companies right now? Other choices include: the credit crunch, too much red tape, fear of the unknown. You can cast your vote here.

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