Some economists have begun comparing Germany's economy, the world's third largest, to Japan's, the second largest.
Britain is Europe's largest arms exporter to Uganda and the third largest to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, both CAR neighbours.
Parliament has proved unable or unwilling to pass legislation on fundamental issues before the country, from overseeing Iraq's oil reserves, the world's third largest, to delineating the power of the caretaker government that will follow Sunday's vote.
Three candidates traveled to this city, Iowa's third largest, to make their final pitches on Monday, highlighting its importance on the last full day of campaigning before this long season of prognostication gives way to actual vote tallying Tuesday.
While Mr. López Obrador's popularity catapulted it in 2006 from the third largest to the second largest party in Congress, the party now stands to lose many of the seats it picked up then.
The deal, to be completed within two years, deepens an existing alliance between the two steel makers, Japan's second and third largest, to combine or close overlapping operations and share cost savings.
