Postretirement benefit plans - Benefits expected to pay (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2015 Medicare subsidy	$ (4)
2016 Medicare subsidy	(4)
2017 Medicare subsidy	(4)
2018 Medicare subsidy	(5)
2019 Medicare subsidy	(5)
2020 - 2024 Medicare subsidy	(9)
U.S. defined benefit plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2015 payment	217
2016 payment	95
2017 payment	91
2018 payment	93
2019 payment	93
2020 - 2024 payment	435
U.S. retiree health care plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2015 payment	36
2016 payment	37
2017 payment	39
2018 payment	40
2019 payment	40
2020 - 2024 payment	194
Non-U.S. defined benefit plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2015 payment	76
2016 payment	78
2017 payment	82
2018 payment	85
2019 payment	89
2020 - 2024 payment	$ 501

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Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the five fiscal years after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 60

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414203&loc=d3e39716-114964

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Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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