Trade North Macedonia remains committed to pursuing membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO. It became a full World Trade Organization (WTO) member in April 2003. Following a 1997 cooperation agreement with the EU, North Macedonia signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU in April 2001, giving North Macedonia duty-free access to European markets. In December 2005, it moved a step forward, obtaining candidate country status for EU accession. North Macedonia has had a foreign trade deficit since 1994, which reached a record high of $2.873 billion in 2008, or 30.2% of GDP. Total trade in 2010 (imports plus exports of goods and services) was $8.752 billion, and the trade deficit amounted to $2.149 billion, or 23.4% of GDP. In the first 8 months of 2011, total trade was $7.470 billion and the trade deficit was $1.778 billion. A significant 56.5% of North Macedonia's total trade was with EU countries. North Macedonia's major trading partners are Germany, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, and Italy. In 2010, total trade between North Macedonia and the United States was $116.6 million, and in the first 8 months of 2011 it was $65 million. U.S. meat, mainly poultry, and electrical machinery and equipment have been particularly attractive to North Macedonia importers. Principal exports from North Macedonia to the United States are tobacco, apparel, iron, and steel.
Trade North Macedonia remains committed to pursuing membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO It became a full World Trade Organization (WTO) member in April 2003 Following a 1997 cooperation agreement with the EU North Macedonia signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU in April 2001 giving North Macedonia duty-free access to European markets In December 2005 it moved a step forward obtaining candidate country status for EU accession North Macedonia has had a foreign trade deficit since 1994 which reached a record high of $2873 billion in 2008 or 302% of GDP Total trade in 2010 (imports plus exports of goods and services) was $8752 billion and the trade deficit amounted to $2149 billion or 234% of GDP In the first 8 months of 2011 total trade was $7470 billion and the trade deficit was $1778 billion A significant 565% of North Macedonia's total trade was with EU countries North Macedonia's major trading partners are Germany Greece Serbia Bulgaria Russia and Italy In 2010 total trade between North Macedonia and the United States was $1166 million and in the first 8 months of 2011 it was $65 million US meat mainly poultry and electrical machinery and equipment have been particularly attractive to North Macedonia importers Principal exports from North Macedonia to the United States are tobacco apparel iron and steel