EU Trade Surplus Drops 60% in February Amid Steep Export Declines to US and China
The European Union experienced a significant contraction in its trade surplus with the rest of the world, declining by 60% in February 2026. Eurostat data revealed total EU exports fell by 9.3% compared to February 2025, while imports decreased by 3.5% year-on-year.
Exports to the United States suffered the largest drop, falling 26.4%, influenced by the continuation of 15% US tariffs on most European goods. EU imports from the US declined by 3.2% during the same period.
EU exports to China also declined, though the report did not quantify the extent. A notable factor contributing to this drop was a surge in EU shipments to the US in early 2025, ahead of tariff enforcement by the former US administration.
In February 2025, EU exports to the US had increased by 22.4% year-on-year. Although the US Supreme Court overturned the broad tariffs imposed under national emergency laws on 20 February 2026, the US quickly introduced new provisional duties and plans to restructure tariffs consistent with last year's EU agreements.
Overall, the EU faces ongoing trade challenges arising from US tariff policies and shifting import-export dynamics with major partners, resulting in a sharp decline in its trade surplus for February 2026.
