For Europe’s prosperity, we will establish a new economic foreign policy that focuses on economic security, trade and investment in partnerships.

The European Union is the largest trading bloc in the world. The EU also has the world’s largest network of trade agreements. EU trade policy plays a critical role for the EU’s economic security in times of geopolitical crisis, economic challenge, and climate change.

Up-to-date information on current trade talks, and trade agreements already in place.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the global body responsible for international trade rules at multilateral level. Both the European Union (EU) and the individual EU countries are members of the WTO.

The variety and quantity of information available on this website shows the European Commission’s commitment to being the world’s most transparent public institution in the field of trade policy.

Access2Markets allows you to obtain information you need when you trade with third countries, such as on tariffs, taxes, procedures, formalities and requirements, rules of origin, export measures, statistics, trade barriers and much more. It also allows you to access key information needed for trade in services as well as for investment and procurement in 3rd countries. You may also learn about EU trade agreements, how to benefit from them and read stories on successful companies using them. Access2Markets is here to help you and your business for import and export.

In response to Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, the EU has put in place unprecedented sanctions designed to reduce the Kremlin’s ability to finance the war; impose clear economic and political costs on Russia’s political elite; diminish Russia’s economic base

The European Union enforces trade rules both within the EU itself and in the EU's export markets.

More trade, means more economic growth. In its trade relations, the EU promotes a sustainable growth model as defined by the European Green Deal and the European Digital Strategy, which can help the recovery from the COVID-19 economic crisis.

How the European Union is shaping its trade relations with the rest of the world.

EU trade agreements shape trade relations with non-EU countries, aiming to create better trading opportunities and overcome barriers to trade.

The EU negotiates various trade deals all over the world, but they depend on approval by the European Parliament. Read our overview of the negotiations in progress.

Find out how the EU helps create business opportunities and set standards through trade agreements and how it mitigates the effects of globalisation.