The United States represents a population of 275 million in an area 9.6 million square kilometers. The US has the most technologically powerful, diverse, advanced, and largest economy in the world, with a GDP of US $9.3 trillion and per capita GDP of $33,900. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and government buys needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment, although their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II.

In 2000, the US had a negative trade balance with China of US $83,833 million with Japan closely behind at US $81,555 million. The US also had a negative trade balance with EU, however it was much less at US $55,000 million. Over the last ten years the US negative trade balance has increased greatly with the China, Japan, and the European Community.