1.   The Fed also said the Asian financial crisis is hurting demand for U.S. agricultural and merchandise exports.

2.   The Federal Reserve said last week the Asian financial crisis is hurting demand for U.S. agricultural and merchandise exports, and cheap imports could hurt U.S. manufacturers.

3.   A sharply depreciated yuan would make Chinese commodities less costly in the international market to the detriment of other Asean merchandise exports.

4.   However, merchandise exports slowed due to a decline in electronics and semiconductor exports that has affected most countries in the region.

5.   The most dynamic region was Latin America, where merchandise exports grew by triple the world average.

6.   A government noted that the performance of merchandise exports was still weak in December, with exports to most of the major markets remaining on a distinct decline.

7.   The United States buys about a third of all Filipino merchandise exports.

8.   The statistics bureau said merchandise exports rose eight percent in December while imports climbed just one percent.

9.   The United States takes four-fifths of Canadian merchandise exports and provides two thirds of its imports.

10.   These include single-digit growth of merchandise exports due to weaker demand for garments and electronics products, as well as slowdowns in the manufacturing and utilities sectors.