[phil_will1]

"Top surplus appears to be with the Netherlands. So much for superior EU tax policies driving trade."

Man, these SQL debate tactics are getting old. You set up a straw man argument which implies that one of two states of nature exist:
1. either tax policies are the only determinant of trade imbalances, or
2. tax policies are not a factor in trade

Then you prove that other factors may be influential and this means that #1 cannot be true; therefore, you have proven #2. The problem is that I never said that tax policies are the ONLY factor contributing to our trade deficit. Any reasonably intelligent person can see your desperation in characterizing my position in such a way and then knocking your own strawman down.

[PAR35]

The difference is that you are unable to come up with any evidence to back up your argument that tax policy drives trade, while I've come up with evidence that shows that it isn't a factor in trade deficits.

Come up with some hard numbers showing the impact of tax policies on bilateral trade, and I'll look at them. In the meantime, you can enjoy reading Other Influences on U.S.-Mexican Trade Besides NAFTA http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=4247&sequence=3