Source: WTO

Global Trade, 2003

Geographically, global trade takes place around three major poles; North America, Europe and Pacific Asia (the Japan, Korea and China triad). Trade volume is not necessarily correlated with trade as a share of GDP. Some countries, like the United States, have an important trade volume, but this volume accounts for a a small share of the national economic activity (about 25% for this case). Inversely, exporting countries, such as Canada, have a high dependence on international trade (about 80% for this case).