Eu Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in eu, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Commercial Best Prospects

U.S. government engagement in a variety of sectors aims to foster U.S. business growth and job creation. These sectors include automotive, energy (e.g., smart grids, small modular reactors, and liquified natural gas), the environment, health and medical technologies, manufacturing (e.g., additive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, and advanced materials), AI, digital technologies, and information and communication technologies. For information on commercial best prospects in each of the 27 Member States, please consult the relevant Member States’ Country Commercial Guide.

Principal U.S. Exports to the European Union 

U.S. exports to the European Union continued to rebound strongly from pandemic-related trade disruptions, growing from $368 billion in 2023 to $370 billion in 2024, an increase of 0.7%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  (According to the data from the European Central Bank, the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar has remained stable in 2023 and the first half of 2024, rising slightly from the 2022 figure of $1.053. The final average rate in 2024 was $1.08).

U.S. exports remained similar to the first half of 2024.  Leading individual EU markets for American goods in 2024 included the Netherlands ($89.6 billion), Germany ($75.6 billion), France ($44.0 billion) and Belgium ($34.2 billion), and the top non-EU European markets for U.S. goods were the United Kingdom ($79.9 billion) and Switzerland ($25 billion), according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The top goods exports categories to the European Union (based on the two-digit Harmonization System code) in 2024 were petroleum and petroleum products  ($59.1 billion), pharmaceuticals ($50.5 billion), power generating machinery ($33.9 billion), natural gases ($21 billion), and transport equipment ($20.9 billion), according to the United States International Trade Commission.

The European Union is also a critical market for American services exports. In 2024, U.S. services exports to the EU totaled $285.9 billion, giving the United States a surplus of $85.2 billion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.  According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, leading services exports from the United States to the European Union were in intellectual property (licenses and research and development), professional and management services, and the financial services sectors.  For detailed information, consult, among other sources, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Principal U.S. Imports from the European Union

In 2024, the United States imported goods from the European Union valued at $605.8 billion. Leading source countries were Germany ($160 billion), Ireland ($103.3 billion), Italy ($76.4 billion), and France ($59.9 billion).  The top goods import categories (based on the two-digit Harmonization System code), based on 2024 data, were pharmaceuticals ($131.8 billion), road vehicles ($56 billion), industrial machinery ($37.6 billion), electrical machinery and parts ($35.4 billion), and specialized machinery ($35.3 billion). Leading services imports from the European Union to the United States generally include travel, transport, intellectual property, and education, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. For detailed information, consult, among other sources, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis. 

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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