In 2016, the Netherlands (61%), Sweden (59%) and Finland (58%) had the highest participation rates in job-related training. The lowest rates were in Greece and Romania (8% each) as well as Italy (11%). The Czech Republic ranked 5th among the EU member states (46.4%).

Cushman & Wakefield’s "Manufacturing Risk Index 2018" report ranks countries based on a range of risk and cost factors, including political and economic risk, market conditions and labour costs, to provide a comprehensive assessment of the attractiveness of 42 countries worldwide.

The US government is considering imposing tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum imports, and the European Union announced it is prepared to respond with tariffs on US imports with the same monetary value as EU exports of steel and aluminum. Other countries, including the largest steel and aluminum exporter to the US, Canada, have also declared their intention to reciprocate. China, the main target of the tariff, has not reacted explicitly.

US government plans to impose tariffs and limits on imports of steel and aluminium on the basis of national security, authorised under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, would fail to appropriately address legitimate concerns regarding global overcapacity. It also risks a deterioration in transatlantic economic and political relations that could threaten jobs, investment and security on both sides of the Atlantic.