External trade

The European Union (EU) is the world’s largest exporter. With over 446 million consumers, this single market with common rules also represents an attractive export market for non-EU countries. The EU has exclusive power to legislate on trade matters and to conclude international trade agreements, based on World Trade Organisation rules, on behalf of its 27 Member States. Its policy covers trade in goods and services but also matters such as the commercial aspects of intellectual property and foreign direct investment. It has enacted trade defence and market access instruments, with the main purpose of protecting EU businesses from obstacles to trade. Lastly, it helps developing countries participate in trade by means of lower duties and support programmes.

• • Exporting from the EU
    • Common EU rules for exports
    • Export credit insurance
    • Dual-use export controls
    • Exports – Specific rules
      • Trade arrangements for processed agricultural products
      • Export of cultural goods
      • EU ban on trade in instruments of torture
      • Dual-use export controls (until 8 September 2021)
      • Applying OECD guidelines in the field of officially supported export credits
  • Importing into the EU
    • Common EU rules for imports
    • Allocation of EU import and export quotas and licences
    • Common rules for imports from certain non-EU countries
    • Imports – Specific rules
      • Trade arrangements for processed agricultural products
      • Imports of textile products from non-EU countries
      • Importing cultural goods
      • Rules for trade across the Green Line in Cyprus
      • Responsible trade in minerals from high-risk or conflict areas
      • Trade in seal products
      • Trade in rough diamonds: implementing the Kimberley Process
  • Trade defence
    • Protection of the interests of the EU and its Member States from economic coercion by non-EU countries
    • EU rights to apply and enforce international trade rules
    • Anti-subsidy measures
    • Anti-dumping measures
    • Combining various types of trade defence measures
    • Rules for trade across the Green Line in Cyprus
    • Safeguarding competition in air transport
  • Common trade policy
    • International trade rules: how the EU can exercise its rights
    • EU external action
    • Effects of foreign legislation on the EU’s financial interests
    • Disputes between foreign investors and EU governments
    • A paperless environment for customs and trade
    • Bilateral investment agreements — EU and non-EU countries
    • The EU’s International Procurement Instrument – IPI
    • Union Customs Code
    • Agreements – Trade
      • Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Eastern and Southern Africa States
      • International agreement on olive oil and table olives
      • Economic and trade agreement between Canada and the European Union
      • EU and the WTO
        • WTO agreement
        • EU rights to apply and enforce international trade rules
        • Adapting EU trade defence measures following a WTO ruling
        • WTO: agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property
        • WTO: agreement on trade in services
        • WTO: agreement on trade in goods
        • WTO: agreement on intellectual property rights relating to trade and pharmaceutical patents
      • Countries and regions
        • Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Eastern and Southern Africa States
        • Ghana-EU economic partnership agreement
        • Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Vietnam
        • Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Singapore
        • EU-UK Trade and Cooperation agreement
        • EU trade agreement with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador
        • EU–Thailand Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation
        • EU-Switzerland trade agreement
        • EU–South Korea free trade agreement
        • EU–Russia partnership and cooperation agreement
        • EU relations with China
        • EU–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement
        • EU—Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation
        • EU-Malaysia Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation
        • EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement
        • EU–Indonesia Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation
        • EU-Côte d'Ivoire Economic Partnership Agreement
        • EU and Iceland: clarification of certain rules relating to trade (safeguard measures)
        • EU cooperation with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries: 11th European Development Fund
        • Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Southern African Development Community countries
        • Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the CARIFORUM states
        • Economic partnership agreement between the EU and Japan
        • Economic and trade agreement between Canada and the European Union
        • Cotonou Agreement
        • ACP countries — economic partnership agreements and export arrangements
        • Association agreement with Ukraine
        • Association agreement with Moldova
        • Agreements with Canada on customs matters
        • Agreement with Bangladesh on partnership and development
        • Agreement on the European Economic Area
        • Agreement between the European Community and the Pacific States
        • Agreement between the EU and Denmark and the Faroe Islands
        • Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia
        • Stabilisation and Association Agreement with North Macedonia
        • Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Montenegro
        • Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Kosovo
        • Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina
        • Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania
        • Political dialogue and cooperation agreement with Cuba
        • Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (PCAs): Russia, the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia
        • Partnership Agreement with Armenia
        • Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Philippines
        • Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Mongolia
        • Pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin
        • Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) with South Africa
        • Investment Protection Agreement between the EU and Singapore
        • Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Central Africa Party
  • Development and sustainability
    • The International Coffee Agreement 2007
    • EU trade policy towards developing countries, including Aid for Trade
    • Fair trade — trade-related sustainability assurance schemes
    • EU aid to non-euro area countries with trade deficit problems
    • Preferential European Union import tariffs for developing countries
  • European trade statistics
    • EU statistics — balance of payments, trade in services and foreign direct investment
  • Archived summaries
    • Protection against subsidies and unfair pricing practices which cause injury in the air transport sector
    • Tariffs on grain imports
    • Global partnership for sustainable development
    • Global Europe: Competing in the world
    • Generalised System of Preferences 2006 - 2008
    • EU surveillance of imports of certain iron and steel products originating in certain non-EU countries
    • Fair trade
    • Extrastat: statistics relating to trade with non-EU countries
    • Euro-Mediterranean association agreement between the EU and Tunisia
    • Exceptional trade measures for countries and territories involved with the EU’s stabilisation and association process
    • A stronger partnership to deliver market access
    • Assisting developing countries to benefit from trade
    • Agricultural commodities, dependence and poverty
    • Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine
    • Common rules for imports from certain Non-EU Member Countries
    • Common rules for imports
    • Common rules for exports
    • Barriers to EU trade and investment
    • Ban on trade in torture instruments
    • Scheme of preferences from 2006 to 2015 - Guidelines
    • Scheme of generalised tariff preferences from 2002 to 2005
    • Towards an EU Aid for Trade strategy
    • Trade policy serving the Europe 2020 strategy
    • Trade barriers faced by EU companies
    • Intrastat: statistics relating to the trading of goods between EU countries
    • International investments: towards a comprehensive European policy
    • Protection against trade barriers
    • Integration of the environmental dimension in developing countries