EU trade agreements continue to benefit European businesses

The EU’s growing network of trade agreements helps European businesses to access new export markets and creates a more predictable trade and investment environment, according to a report published today. The sixth Annual Report on the Implementation and Enforcement of EU Trade and Economic Security Policy, covering the year 2025, concludes that EU trade agreements play a crucial role in increasing the resilience and competitiveness of EU operators. The EU currently has 45 trade agreements in place, covering 81 preferential trade partners.

EU trade agreements continue to strengthen the EU’s geopolitical presence in a challenging international environment. Over the reporting period, EU goods exports to FTA partners increased by €250 billion, helping to compensate for reduced exports of goods to Russia, which fell by €54.5 billion during that time. At the end of 2025, the EU had in place 44 preferential trade agreements with 76 countries, representing 46.3% of the EU’s external trade. Trade in goods with these partner countries grew faster than the EU’s total trade with other third countries: 3.1% growth compared to 1,4%. In 2025, EU agri-food exports to countries with a trade agreement increased by 4.6%, while those to non-preferential partners fell by 3.6%.

This report on the implementation and enforcement of EU trade and economic security policy in 2025 provides an update on the EU’s main activities and achievements, steered by the European Commission’s Chief Trade Enforcement Officer. The report showcases the impacts of the removal of trade barriers and resolution of disputes in third-country trading partners.

More information is available in the press release.

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