Development of trade in goods and services between Germany and countries of the Visegrad Group between 2004 and 2008

This paper examines the trade between Germany and countries of the Visegrad Group (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, thereinafter as V4) from 2004 to 2008. Germany is a very important business partner for all of these countries. It focuses mainly on the influence of the economic development of Germany on trade of these countries and also the influence of the EU eastward enlargement in May 1st 2004, when the countries of V4 joined the internal market of EU. Firstly, the economic development in Germany between 2004 and 2008 is described. Other factors, which influenced the trend in trade between Germany and the countries of V4 are also mentioned. After that, description of the development of trade in goods and services between Germany and each single country follows - before 2004 and between 2004 and 2008. Finally, development of the trade of particular countries is compared. On the basis of this comparison, a strong influence of the development of the German economy mainly on the trade in goods between Germany and countries of V4 is proven. There is also an obvious effect of EU eastward enlargement -- it evoked a strong increase in export and import. Following characteristics are typical for trade between Germany and countries of V4: For all of these countries Germany is the main business partner, but it's share on the trade of these countries is decreasing. Big share of machinery and transport equipment (mainly in Hungary and Slovakia) is also important. Trade in this commodity group strongly depends on the economic situation in Germany