In 2017, the U.S. exported $ 1,551 billion worth of goods while importing $ 2,362 billion worth for a merchandise trade deficit of $ 811 billion. But this is not a loss to the United States in any meaningful way: First,the lives of a hundred million American households are made better every day by imports of automobiles, electronics, clothing, shoes, fresh produce, and pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, U.S. producers keep their factories humming with imported machinery, crude oil, lumber, steel and other inputs.

Imposing restrictions on steel imports would have severe consequences for the EU. The European Steel Association considers the U.S. a key market, accounting for most European steel exports outside the EU. Steel has long been a strategically important industry in the EU, one that has fostered innovation, sparked economic growth and employed a lot of people. A, increase in tariffs would mean fewer exports to the U.S. and a potential cut on production for European plants.

Google provides a huge variety of services, many of which are free. Gmail, Google Drive and Google Hangouts can be used without paying a cent. Instead, pay by providing information about yourself, which Google can use for advertising. Though it started in search, the lion’s share of the company’s profits come from ads.

Source: Transparency International EU

Annual Budget and number of meetings with the European Commissioon since 2014

1. Microsoft: € 4.5 million, 84 high level meetings with the EC

2. Google: € 4.25 million, 153 high level meetings with the EC

3. Amazon: € 1.75 million, 33 high level meetings with the EC

4. Facebook: € 1.00 million, 68 high level meetings with the EC

5. Apple: € 1.00 million, 26 high level meetings with the EC

Lobbying and diplomacy are activities aimed at representing certain interests in front of the decision-makers and the public of a political system ; at informing policy-makers and the public about certain policies, specific viewpoints, etc. ; at communicating these issues via formal and informal channels ; at influencing the formulation and implementation of policies ; and at building relationships.

1. Luxembourg: 17%
2. Malta; 18%
3. Cyprus, Germany, Romania: 19%
4. Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Slovakia, United Kingdom: 20%
5. Belgium, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Spain: 21%
6. Italy, Slovenia: 22%
7. Ireland, Poland, Portugal: 23%
8. Finland, Greece: 24%
9. Croatia, Denmark, Sweden: 25%
10. Hungary: 27%

The European Union is preparing punitive tariffs on iconic U.S. brands. Targeting 2.8 billion euros of American goods, the EU aims to apply a 25 percent tit-for-tat levy on a range of consumer, agricultural and steel products imported from the U.S. The list of targeted U.S. goods includes motorcycles (Harley-Davidson) jeans (Levi Strauss) and bourbon whiskey.

The European retaliatory list targets imports from the U.S. of

Source: VoteWatch Europe

The Trump administration is to put tariffs on steel and aluminum products of 25% and 10% respectively.

Steel Sources (Percent of total Volume)

1. Canada: 16%
2. Brazil: 13%
3. South Korea: 10%
4. Mexico: 9%
5. Russia: 9%
6. Turkey: 7%
7. Japan: 5%
8. Taiwan: 4%
9. Germany: 3%
10. India: 2%

Aluminum Products Sources (Percent of total Volume)

The 2018 Italian general election is due to be held on 4 March 2018.Voters will elect the 630 members of the Chamber of Deputies and the 315 elective members of the Senate of the Republic for the 18th legislature of the Republic of Italy, since 1948. The election will take place concurrently with the Lombard regional election and the Lazio regional election.

What are the main parties?

More than 20 parties are in the ring, but Italian voters are largely split into three political camps, according to recent polls.