ASIA IN THE WORLD-ECONOMY - SOME TRENDS

The article analyses the East and Southeast Asian countries' trade wit h Western industrial countries. The outstanding growth performance in East- and Southeast Asia has been associated with a corresponding grow th in these countries' trade. The region's share of total world trade increased from about 10 per cent in 1970 to 22 per cent in 1992. The N orwegian trade experience is analysed separately and compared with the general western trade pattern with East and Southeast Asia. Western c ountries' share of East and Southeast Asia's foreign trade has remaine d relatively constant, both as regards exports and imports. This indic ates Western countries trade with the region growing at par with both with East and Southeast Asia's imports and exports. The Norwegian expe riences contrast this. The Norwegian share of East and Southeast Asia' s imports has remained constant (as is the case for other Western coun tries), but the Norwegian share of the regions exports decreased signi ficantly. Thus the Norwegian relative trade balance towards the region has improved. There are also important differences in the trade patte rn between Norway's trade with East and Southeast Asia as compared to other Western countries. There is less intraindustry trade between Nor way and Asia and Norway is considerably more specialised in rawmateria ls and natural resource based products in her exports to Asia than are other Western countries.