In particular, on average around a quarter of outward Dutch direct investment flows is directed towards the United States. Over the last ten years mutual direct investment flows have increased. This increase was similar to the global increase in foreign direct investment that started in the 1980s.
In 2000, the Dutch foreign direct investment position in the US had a value of around 20% of Dutch GDP, which is a quarter of the total Dutch foreign investment position. Fifteen years earlier, in 1985, this value was just 12%. In my talk this afternoon, I will further explore the effects of increased direct investment exposures.