The value of the euro currency has plunged for example, which makes American exports - key to the U.S.economic recovery - less competitive.

VOA: standard.2010.02.26

Some business groups complain that the proposed tax changes will impose new costs on U.S.firms and make them less competitive in the global marketplace.

VOA: standard.2009.05.04

Mr.Hatoyama has signaled he will seek to make the U.S.relationship less central to Japan's decision-making.

VOA: standard.2009.08.31

"There is no evidence that the U.S.is any less strong than it has always been.

VOA: standard.2010.03.18

Also,the president mentioned Friday's U.S.Treasury Department announcement that the bailout of some U.S.industries will likely cost less than $90 billion, down from the original estimate of $500 billion.

VOA: standard.2010.04.24

China is also catching up. Meanwhile in the U.S., the fastest train,known as Acela, reaches less than half those speeds and only operates between Washington, New York and Boston.

VOA: standard.2010.02.15

"It sends a clear message to those who do business with Iran's petroleum sector, you can trade with Iran and its less than or you can trade with the U.S.

VOA: standard.2009.10.28

Many analysts believe President Obama will order additional U.S.forces to Afghanistan, but the total will be less than the 40,000 troops requested by his top commander in the country, General Stanley McChrystal.

VOA: standard.2009.11.23

On Friday,the U.S.special envoy to Afghanistan,Richard Holbrooke,said he believes there will be less fraud this time around because only two candidates will be on the ballot and more international teams will be in place to monitor.

VOA: standard.2009.10.24

The President took a personal interest in restructuring Chrysler and General Motors, following two of the largest bankruptcies in U.S.history - less than a year after he had proposed billions of dollars in government loans.

VOA: standard.2010.07.29

The report noted that 165 Iraqis were killed during May from insurgency-related violence, less than half the April casualty figure of 355.U.S.-led forces in Iraq are set to withdraw from all Iraqi cities by June 30, in accordance with a security pact signed between the United States and the Iraqi government,last November.

VOA: standard.2009.06.01

women making up more than half of the U.S.population while occupying only 17 percent of the seats in U.S Congress, and constituting less than three percent of Fortune 500 company chief executive officers (SPEAKING) Madeleine Albright, who served as Secretary of State during the Clinton administration, pointed to the challenges women still face globally in achieving the same basic rights and dignity as men.

VOA: standard.2010.03.08

"These targets are set for 2015 and are to achieve at least 90 percent measles vaccination coverage nationally and 80 percent coverage in every district, reduce measles cases to less than five per million population, reduce measles mortality by U.N.health agencies have made huge strides in reducing the number of children dying from measles.

VOA: standard.2010.05.21