West Germany outdistanced the United States as...

West Germany outdistanced the United States as the world’s biggest exporter for the second year in a row, according to the International Monetary Fund. West German exports amounted to $294 billion, compared to $250 billion for the United States and $231 billion for Japan in 1987, the IMF said. West German exports, which first jumped ahead of U.S. exports in 1986, also ran ahead of U.S. exports for the first two months of 1988: $46.7 billion for West Germany, compared to $45.9 billion for the United States. U.S. imports in 1987 were $424 billion, compared to $228 billion for West Germany, $158 billion for France, $154 billion for Britain and $151 billion for Japan. The IMF figures show total trade increased 10% in 1986 and 18% in 1987. The fund reported that trade among the biggest countries remained far out of balance in 1986 and 1987. The United States imported much more than it exported, while the reverse was true for Japan and West Germany.