Appendix A

COUNTRY DATA

            THE NETHERLANDS

1.  Profile

    A.   Population:    15.2 million
    B.   Religions:     Roman Catholic and Protestant
    C.   Government:    Constitutional Monarchy with Parliament
                        Head of State: Queen Beatrix
                        Head of Government: Prime Minister Wim
                        Kok
    D.   Language:      Dutch; English frequently used with
                        business
    E.   Last election: May 1994


2.  Domestic Economy                   1992       1993        1994

    A.   GDP (current $b)             302.8      308.5       318.7
    B.   Real GDP Growth Rate (%)      +1.4       +0.3        +1.5
    C.   GDP Per Capita ($)        20,053.0   20,229.0    20,831.0
    D.   Govt. Spending (% of GDP)     58.2       58.6        58.1
    E.   Inflation (% change in CPI)    3.2        2.6         2.8
    F.   Unemployment (%)               6.7        8.3         9.0
    G.   Foreign Exch. Reserves ($b)   35.1       40.2        41.0
         (including gold)
    H.   H. Av. Ann. Exch. Rate        1.76       1.86        1.95
         ($1 = Guilder)
    I.   Mfg. Hourly Wage Rate          4.2        3.3         1.7
         (% change)
    J.   Ind. Production (% change)     1.4        0.1         1.8

3.  Trade

    A.   Total Exports (f.o.b./$b)    128.0      125.1       131.3
    B.   Total Imports (c.i.f./$b)    121.6      116.9       122.3
    C.   U.S. Exports (f.a.s./$b)      13.7       12.8        14.0
    D.   U.S. Imports (customs/$b)      5.3        5.5         6.0

    E.   Main U.S. exports to Netherlands:  Machinery and transport
         equipment; agricultural goods; chemicals; computers;
         electronic equipment.
    F.   Main U.S. imports from Netherlands:  Food and live
         animals; beer; chemicals; office machines; petroleum
         products.
    G.   Foreign supplier share of Dutch imports (percent)

                                        1992          1993      1994

         1.   Germany                   25.2          23.5      25.0
         2.   Belgium/Luxembourg        14.2          11.7      12.0
         3.   United Kingdom             8.6           9.6      10.0
         4.   United States              7.8           8.0      10.0
         5.   France                     7.9           7.5       8.0
         6.   Japan                      3.6           3.8       4.0

    H.   Balance of Payments ($b)       +7.0          +9.4      +9.9

    I.   Trade balances with leading trading partners ($m)
         1.   Germany                 +6,034       +10,745       N/A
         2.   Belgium/Luxembourg        +829         2,828       N/A
         3.   United States           -4,483        -4,585       N/A
         4.   United Kingdom          +1,180          +978       N/A
         5.   France                  +3,922        +5,303       N/A
         6.   Japan                   -3,411        -3,531       N/A

    J.   Import Policy:
         1.   Tariffs and Taxes:  Most tariffs on products from
              the U.S. are in the 5 to 8 percent range.
              Industrial products from the European Union (EU)
              and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
              countries enter the Netherlands duty-free.  A
              17.5 percent value added tax (VAT) is applied to
              most imported and domestic goods.

         2.   Licensing:  Except for agricultural products and
              minerals, few items are subject to import
              licensing.

    K.   Best U.S. Export Prospects:  data processing and other
         business equipment, telecommunications, medical and
         scientific instrumentation, pollution control equipment.

4.       Foreign Direct Investment

    A.   Foreign Ownership Restrictions:    None.  U.S. investments
                                            welcome.
    B.   U.S. Direct Investment in the
         Netherlands:  (end-1992)           $19 billion
    C.   U.S. Share of Foreign Investment:  37%
    D.   Principal Foreign Investors:       United States, Germany,
                                            the United Kingdom
    E.   Dutch Direct Investment in the
         United States:  (end-1992)         $61 billion
    F.   Major U.S. Investors in the
         Netherlands:                       Dow Chemical; Du Pont de
                                            Nemours; Eastman Chemicals;
                                            General Electric Plastics;
                                            Cargil; Philip Morris;
                                            Packard Bell; Mobil Chemical
                                            Company.

5.  Commercial Information

    A.   Senior Commercial Officer:        Rafael Fermoselle
         SCO's Previous Post:              Bueno Aires, Mexico,
                                           Dominican
                                           Republic

Sources:
a.  Central Planning Bureau (CPU)
b.  1994 Budget Memorandum
c.  U.S. Embassy, The Hague
d.  USDOC Statistics