France, again
Further to yesterday's sermon on France and the French, today I read a very interesting article in Les Echos (a fine paper, and sister publication of the FT, so I'm told) about the French trade deficit, which is currently hovering ominously around -€30 billion, despite French exports of over €300 billion in 2006. In typically objective and uncompromising Les Echos style, the article then went on to congratulate the Germans on their €900 billion trade surplus. That's nearly a TRILLION euro! It's mind boggling. Germany exports more than the USA (circa €0.8 billion). It is the number 1 exporter in the world. China is set to overtake it in 2008 (hardly surprising), but still - incredible.