Italy loses in international competition since the establishment of the exchange rate to the euro in 1996, steadily gaining ground. Was ten years ago, the share of exports in GDP is around 30%, the proportion in 2005 had shrunk to one fifth. In this period, however, the import share rose from around 33% to more than 40% of the gross domestic product. The trade balance, which requires ten years diploma with a large surplus, since 2004 the red. Since the seventies of the 20th Century, the trade relations of Italy, especially with other Member countries of the European Union have been strengthened. The dependence of Italy on imported raw materials led to important in the eighties, mainly to negative trade balances. Even during the economic downturn 2002-2005 graduated from Italy with a negative trade balance. A large part of the Italian products is exported. One of the main Italian exports are engineering goods, textiles and clothing, motor vehicles , chemical products, food, wine , minerals and nonferrous metals (particularly mercury before). The major export partners) are Germany (13.2% in 2006, France (12.3%), the United States (8%), Spain (7.5%) and Britain (6.6%). Other important non-European trading partners are China, Russia and Japan. In 2006, revenues were from exports a total of 450.1 billion U.S. dollars. Thus ended the Italian foreign trade in 2006 with a deficit of € -21.1 billion. The deficit thus increased during the last three years, steadily, and in 2005 was even more - 9.4 billion Euros and 2004 only € -1.2 billion. Total exports rose 8.8% in 2006 to, while imports increased by 12.3%.

Aluna: Paola Barth ADM 302