ABOUT THE U.S. TRADE DEFICIT

In 2016, the U.S. exported $ 2.2 trillion in goods and services while it imported € 2.7 trillion, leaving a trade deficit of roughly $ 500 billion.  Today’s $ 500 billion deficit represents about 2.7 percent of US GDP. By far the largest bilateral trade imbalance is with China. The United States ran a $ 347 billion deficit with China in 2016. The next largest contributor to the deficit at $ 68 billion is Japan and the third contributor in Europe is Germany at $ 65 billion.

US TRADE IN GOODS WITH ASIAN/PACIFIC COUNTRIES

US$

Positive Balance

Australia

  • Exports: 22 Billion
  • Imports: 10 Billion
  • Balance: 12 Billion (Positive)

Brunei

  • Exports: 615 Million
  • Imports: 14 Million
  • Balance: 601 Million (Positive)

Hong Kong

  • Exports: 35 Billion
  • Imports: 7 Billion
  • Balance: 28 Billion (Positive)

Papua New Guinea

DEFINITIONS OF LOBBYING/LOBBYIST IN EU COUNTRIES

1. Austria: Article 4 of the Law introduces a set of definition aimed at clarifying the concept of lobbying activity by establishing the boundaries of the application of the legislation. The legislation affects lobbying consultancies, corporate groups, professional groups and public groups. All interest representatives hired by these sectors are subject to the established rules when trying to influence public holders.

TOWARDS A NEW DEFINITION OF LOBBYING AT EU LEVEL?

The Commission has been thinking about a new definition of what lobbying is, and what activities would therefore require registration in the register and which would not.

The current definition pertains to all activities ... carried out with the objective of directly or indirectly influencing the formulation or implementation of policy and the decision-making processes of the EU institutions…

U.S. TRADE IN GOODS WITH EU COUNTRIES (2016)

US$

Austria

  • Exports: 22,2 Billion
  • Imports: 9.5 Billion
  • Balance: 12.7 Billion (Positive)

Belgium

  • Exports: 32,097 Billion
  • Imports: 17,013 Billion
  • Balance: 15,084 Billion (Positive)

Bulgaria

  • Exports: 269 Million
  • Imports: 604 Million
  • Balance: (335) Million

Croatia

AMERICA FIRST, EUROPE LAST: A CASE OF DIPLOMATIC MYOPIA

300 days have elapsed since Trump inauguration and the post of US AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN UNION REMAINS VACANT and NO ONE HAS YET BEEN NOMINATED.

Also, the following posts are VACANT without anyone Nominated

  1. Austria
  2. Belgium
  3. Finland
  4. Hungary
  5. Ireland
  6. Sweden

Yet, considering the above countries

US Exports (2016) and US FDI

RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN SLOVENIA

Slovenia is eager to maintain energy-focused economic ties with Russia. Moreover, the country supports lifting the sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea. Slovenian politicians stress “mutual respect for different opinions” in relations with Russia.

RUSSIAN SANCTIONS AND EU MEMBER STATES STANCE

EU Member States in favor of lifting Russian sanctions

CORPORATE TAX IN EU COUNTRIES

CT 10.0%

  1. Bulgaria

CT 12.5%

  1. Ireland
  2. Cyprus

CT 15.0%

  1. Latvia
  2. Lithuania

CT 16.0%

  1. Romania 

CT 18.0%

  1. Croatia

CT 19.0%

  1. Czech Republic
  2. Hungary
  3. Poland
  4. Slovenia

CT 20.0%

  1. United Kingdom
  2. Finland

CT 21.0%

FDI IN THE EU

Source: EY European Investment Monitor (EIM), 2017

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