Strong Growth of OECD Trade with East Central Europe

Western industrialised countries have increased their exports to East Central Europe by 64 percent between 1988 and 1992. Despite important measures of liberalisation (free trade agreements) import from this area expanded at a much slower pace, the export surplus of the West attaining $ 4.5 billion in 1992. Austria has been quick in seizing the new opportunities and has benefited much more than other Western countries from the new East-West trade.