Question

Why might Belgium, France, Italy, and Sweden have a higher export to GDP ratio than the United States?

Short answer

Because the United States is such a vast economy, it requires less foreign trade than the other countries mentioned.

Step-by-step solution

Definition

GDP: Gross domestic product (GDP) is an economic metric that measures the proportional change in value resulting from the production of goods and services over a given time period in a given economy. Gross domestic product (GDP) depicts the income inflow into an economy as a result of output after removing costs for final goods and imports.

Explanation

Because of its huge economy, the United States requires less overseas commerce than the other countries named. (For the same reason, France and Italy have lower ratios than Belgium and Sweden.)

Another factor is that each of the other countries is a member of the European Union, which eliminates taxes and restrictions on trade between members.