The availability of low priced consumer goods and services from EMEs was worldwide. Yet, it can be observed that the Euro area as a whole did not exhibit large current account deficits throughout the current decade. In fact, it exhibited a surplus except for a minor deficit in 2008.
Thus it is difficult to argue that the US large current account deficit was caused by China’s exchange rate policy. The existence of excess demand for an extended period in the U.S. was more influenced by its own macroeconomic and monetary policies, and may have continued even with more flexible exchange rate policies in China.