POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS - Fair Value of Plan Assets, Pension Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Principal pension plans
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets
Beginning balance	$ 45,893	$ 45,720
Actual gain on plan assets	6,217	2,892
Employer contributions	1,978	552
Participant contributions	91	115
Benefits paid	(3,818)	(3,386)
Acquisitions (dispositions) / other - net	0	0
Exchange rate adjustments	0	0
Ending balance	50,361	45,893
Other pension plans
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets
Beginning balance	17,091	17,368
Actual gain on plan assets	1,977	1,743
Employer contributions	870	795
Participant contributions	42	43
Benefits paid	(977)	(842)
Acquisitions (dispositions) / other - net	1,221	(81)
Exchange rate adjustments	1,000	(1,935)
Ending balance	$ 21,224	$ 17,091

Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Business Combination (Dispositions)

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in plan assets of defined benefit plan from actual return (loss) determined by change in fair value of plan assets adjusted for contributions, benefit payments, and other expenses.

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- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of contribution received by defined benefit plan from employer which increases plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
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-Section 50
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- Definition

Fair value of assets that have been segregated and restricted to provide pension or postretirement benefits. Assets include, but are not limited to, stocks, bonds, other investments, earnings from investments, and contributions by the employer and employees.

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- Definition

Amount of payment to participant under defined benefit plan which decreases plan assets. For pension plan, payment includes, but is not limited to, pension benefits and death benefits. For other postretirement plan, payment includes, but is not limited to, prescription drug benefits, health care benefits, life insurance benefits, and legal, educational and advisory services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

Amount of contributions received by defined benefit plan from participant which increases plan assets.

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- Definition

Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which increases (decreases) plan assets of defined benefit plan.

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