EXPORTS, IMPORTS, and TRADE BALANCE

KEY TRENDS

• A continued increase in U.S. imports of chemicals and related products reflects a rise in imports of pharmaceutical ingredients, especially from the EU, used to make consumer products that are sold domestically and in foreign markets.
  
  
• Increased U.S. exports of aircraft, spacecraft, and related equipment to the EU were driven principally by sales of U.S.-built business jets and basic military trainers.
  
  
• Exports of medicinal chemicals to the EU maintained their rising trend because of continued intracompany sales to U.S. multinational pharmaceutical companies in Germany and the Netherlands.
  
  

TRADE SHIFTS in 2004 from 2003

• U.S. trade deficit: Increased $14.2 billion (14 percent) to $118.3 billion
• U.S. exports: Increased $13.8 billion (10 percent) to $152.0 billion
• U.S. imports: Increased $28.0 billion (12 percent) to $270.2 billion
  
  

LINKS

OTHER GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration

• Country Analysis Briefs - Europe

U.S. Department of State

• Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs

Europa, Gateway to the European Union

• Economic and Financial Affairs
• External Trade

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency

• World Factbook
  

SECTOR SHIFTS

| Agricultural Products | Forest Products | Chemicals and Related Products |
| Energy and Related Products | Textiles, Apparel, and Footwear |
| Minerals and Metals | Machinery | Transportation Equipment |
| Electronic Products | Miscellaneous Manufactures |

COUNTRY SHIFTS