China passes the EU in high-tech exports

The value of high-tech exports worldwide increased by an average of 5% a year between 2001 and 2006. This increase was mostly due to the rise of Chinese exports in world trade. Although in 2005 the EU was the leader in high-tech exports, China took over the lead in 2006 followed by the United States, the EU-27 and Japan. At EU-level, four countries make a significant contribution to the share of world exports in high-tech products: Germany is in front, followed by the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. In 2006, as in previous years, 'Electronics-Telecommunication' accounted for the largest share of high-tech imports and exports, closely followed by 'Computers-Office Machines'. Taken together, both groups accounted for 67% of the world's high-tech trade. The aim of this issue is to present the world shares of high-tech trade, focusing in particular on high-tech trade by main product groups.

• Primary Source