If one is inclined to think that the global economy is a plot to steal jobs and finances from one country and transfer them to others, pay attention to the mutually-beneficial alliance of German and American commerce. According to Facts about German-American Investment and Trade, from the Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT), over 3,000 German-owned and invested firms generate 664,000 jobs and pump $212 billion into the U.S. economy.
For those who feel that this sort of international investment empties plants and office parks and vaporizes jobs, think of the fact that Germany (as of 2008) spends $6.3 billion on R&D in US – the largest amount any foreign country in US and nearly 20% of the overall total, according to RGIT. In turn, "the $50 billion in U.S. merchandise exported to Germany" annually is quite a plant opener and job creator on both sides of the Atlantic!
Multinational Business Cooperation
As one example of beneficial economic cooperation, take the Pittsburgh PA region. According to the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, the region has roughly 70 German-owned and German-invested firms. Three examples tell quite a story. The massive multi-industry Bayer AG has its BayerUS headquarters here and Lanxess (a Bayer spin-off) does as well.