Who Owns American Federal Debt Overseas?

In $billions 

China_Mainland              763.5
Japan                       685.9
Carib_Bnkng_Ctrs            204.7
Oil_Exporters               189.5
United_Kingdom              152.8
Russia                      137.0
Brazil                      126.0
Luxembourg                   97.5
Hong_Kong                    80.9
Taiwan                       78.3
Switzerland                  64.2
Germany                      54.6
Ireland                      49.7
Singapore                    39.7
India                        38.5
Korea                        35.4
Mexico                       35.4
France                       30.6
Thailand                     28.5
Norway                       27.5
Turkey                       27.2
Israel                       19.1
Egypt                        18.5
Netherlands                  16.5
Italy                        16.2
Belgium                      15.8
Chile                        15.1
Canada                       13.1
Sweden                       12.7
Philippines                  12.0
Malaysia                     11.6
Colombia                     11.4
All_Other                   153.5

Grand_Total                3262.6

Department of the Treasury/Federal Reserve Board
June 15, 2009

Whoa! Long list. And lots of money -- about 20% of GDP in fact. There's been approximately a 20% increase in foreign-held dollar debt in the past thirteen months, about $650 billion according to the Treasury. And, despite all of the rhetoric from China, Beijing authorities have purchased almost 40% of that additional dollar-denominated debt. Some countries have changed their minds, however.

The English share of this debt has declined by almost 50% in the last year. So has Canada's. Japanese purchases over that time lagged behind the average increase, and last month their purchases declined 80%.

This is why the talk of another currency, or super currency, is very loud in Asia. If anyone in Washington is listening, they must not be in office.

Luther