The USA remains the EU’s largest trading partner for both goods and services, and there are also significant investment flows between the two partners. However, a steady decline of the share of the USA in total EU27 trade in goods has been observed over recent years. In 2000, the USA accounted for 28% of total EU27 exports, compared with 19% in 2009. The share of USA in total EU27 imports also fell over this period, from 21% in 2000 to 12% in 2008, before recovering slightly to 13% in 2009.

On the occasion of the European Union – USA summit, which will take place on 20 November in Lisbon, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, issues data on trade and investments between the USA and the EU.

Recovery of EU exports in the first half of 2010 The value of EU27 exports of goods to the USA increased from 238 billion euro in 2000 to a peak of 269 bn in 2006 and then fell in the following years to reach 206 bn in 2009. The value of EU27 imports from the USA decreased from 206 bn in 2000 to 158 bn in 2003, then increased to 187 bn in 2008 and fell again to 159 bn in 2009. In consequence, the EU27 surplus in trade with the USA increased from 32 bn in 2000 to a peak of 94 bn in 2006 and then decreased steadily, to reach 46 bn in 2009. Between the first half of 2009 and the first half of 2010, there was a recovery in EU27 exports to the USA, from 102 bn to 114 bn, while imports continued to fall, from 85 bn to 82 bn. As a result, the EU27 surplus in trade in goods with the USA rose from 17 bn in the first half of 2009 to 32 bn in the first half of 2010.

Machinery and vehicles accounted for almost 40% of EU27 exports to the USA in the first half of 2010, followed by chemicals with one quarter and other manufactured goods with one fifth. Machinery and vehicles also accounted for 40% of imports, while chemicals and other manufactured goods represented around one fifth each.

Largest surpluses recorded by Germany, Ireland, Italy and the UK

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany (30 bn euro or 27% of EU exports of goods) was by far the largest exporter to the USA in the first half of 2010, followed by the United Kingdom (18 bn or 16%), France (11 bn or 10%), Italy (10 bn or 9%), Ireland and Belgium (both 9 bn or 8%). Germany and the United Kingdom were the largest importers (15 bn or 18% of EU imports each), followed by the Netherlands (13 bn or 16%) and France (10 bn or 12%).

Germany (+16 bn euro) recorded the largest surplus in trade with the USA in the first half of 2010, followed by Ireland (+5 bn), Italy and the United Kingdom (both +4 bn). The largest deficit was observed in the Netherlands (-5 bn), followed by Spain (-0.6 bn) and Greece (-0.5 bn).

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