Really?? Because, your question specifcally mentioned EXPORTS.
Mfg is UP, across the board, in the past 10 years... practically every industry. Not as much as it SHOULD be, or COULD be. But... up.
My point is.. the USA still PRODUCES.. MANY things. It's a myth that we don't.
Rank Country/Region 2007 2008 2009 2010 Crude steel production (million tonnes):
2007 2008 2009 2010 World 1,351.3 1326.5 1,219.7 1,413.6 1 China 494.9 500.3 573.6 626.7 EU 209.7 198.0 139.1 172.9 2 Japan 120.2 118.7 87.5 109.6 3 USA 98.1 91.4 98.2 80.6 4 Russia 72.4 68.5 60.0 67.0