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Trade with foreign countries has become an increasingly important part of our economy. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden takes a look at the most important U.S. cities when it comes to international trade.

“Well, let’s the focus here … on the U.S. and the top three cities in the U.S. that are engaged in international trade are New York, Houston and Los Angeles. Now, of course, New York because it’s New York. You would expect that. Los Angeles, obviously accessibility to Asian trade there. Houston is out there because it is heavily involved in energy trade, oil and coal trade.

“Now if we look in the Southeast, the top cities are Miami, Atlanta and Greenville/Spartanburg. Again, Atlanta, Miami, you make sense (because you are) big cities — especially … Miami. What may be confusing people is, Why is Greenville/Spartanburg there? That’s because they’re (into) … auto assembly there. Obviously a lot of trade, particularly with Europe.

“In North Carolina, the leading city right now in terms of international trade is Charlotte. A lot of that has to do, obviously, with the banking centers that are in that city.”