Even in trade of goods EFTA was still the second largest trading partner of the EU in 2006 and slightly ahead of China – 283 versus 258 billion euro in 2006. However, China is the biggest exporter of goods to the EU, before both the United States and EFTA.
EU's Main Trading Partners 2006 – Goods (bn euro)
Partner |
Trade |
Export |
Import |
Share of total |
USA |
447 |
269 |
178 |
18% |
EFTA |
283 |
130 |
154 |
11% |
China |
258 |
64 |
194 |
10% |
Russia |
213 |
72 |
141 |
8% |
Japan |
122 |
45 |
77 |
5% |
Rest of the World |
1184 |
578 |
606 |
47% |
Source: Eurostat
Trade in services accounted for 25 % of EU's total external trade in 2006, and the EFTA countries was the second partner of the EU with a trade of 120 billion euro or 15 % of the EU's external trade in services. The USA was the main partner with a trade in services of 257 billion euro. Japan's, Russia's and China's trade in services with the EU amounted to respectively 32, 25 and 24 billion euro in 2006 and were well below EFTA's.
EU's Main Trading Partners 2006 – Services (bn euro)
Partner |
Trade |
Exports |
Imports |
Share of total |
United States |
257 |
135 |
122 |
32% |
EFTA |
120 |
70 |
49 |
15% |
Japan |
32 |
19 |
13 |
4% |
Russian Federation |
25 |
14 |
11 |
3% |
China |
24 |
13 |
11 |
3% |
Rest of the world |
357 |
191 |
167 |
44% |
Source: Eurostat
The main services in the EU-EFTA trade were travel, transportation and financial services which accounted for almost 50 % of the trade in services. Other business services stood for 32 % of trade in services and comprise trade-related services, operation leasing services, professional and technical services.
Notes:
Trade equals the sum of exports and imports of goods and/or services.
EU's trade does not include intra EU trade between EU Member States.
EFTA trade figures comprise data from the four EFTA States – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.