意大利贸易和经常项目赤字巨大，且在不断攀升，这也许反映了意大利相对其两大贸易伙伴 — — 德国和法国 — — 竞争力下降的事实。
The trade and current-account deficits are large and rising, probably reflecting a loss of competitiveness and productivity relative to Germany and France, two of Italy’s largest trading partners.