At the start, America tried to keep the gates open, brokering an Agreement on Movement and Access with Israel to allow the export from Gaza of hundreds of trucks of produce a day, regular bus convoys to and from the West Bank and the opening of a Palestinian-controlled crossing at Rafah to Egypt.

ECONOMIST: Israel and Gaza

In addition, open trade with the EU allowed it to build a diversified export economy.

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Vladimir Putin, the president, is keen to open up new LNG export markets in Japan and elsewhere in Asia, partly to offset weakening sales to Europe.

ECONOMIST: Japan��s energy security

"China still needs America's market, needs to keep the U.S. dollar strong, and also needs the U.S. to open its market to Chinese export, " said Yan Xuetong, an America-watcher in Tsinghua University.

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This should generate 5, 250MW when finished, increasing electricity production in the country fivefold, providing a surplus for export and allowing Ethiopia to open up as a manufacturer.

ECONOMIST: African energy

This would create jobs (especially for women), meet the growing need of an urbanising population for more sophisticated services, and open up new export markets.

ECONOMIST: Banyan

The lifting of U.S. export controls on high technology exports to India will open vast opportunities for giant research and development efforts.

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The issue is whether Europe, eager to export its industrial goods, is ready in return to open both its industrial and its agricultural doors.

ECONOMIST: Latin America and Europe