Eurostat data released on April 17 revealed that the European Union’s trade surplus with the world contracted by a dramatic 60% in February, driven mainly by weaker exports to the United States.
EU exports to the US fell sharply by 26.4% compared to February last year. In contrast, imports from the US declined only 3.2%. Overall EU exports dropped 9.3% year-on-year, with imports easing 3.5%.
Significant Contraction in Trade Balance
The steep decline in exports to America stemmed from US tariffs of approximately 15% on a wide range of EU goods.
The effect was magnified because European companies had rushed shipments to the US market in early 2025 ahead of expected tariff hikes under President Trump.
This front-loading created an unusually high base for comparison, making the current drop appear even larger.
Legal and Policy Shifts in US
The situation remains fluid after the US Supreme Court invalidated Trump’s broad emergency tariffs on February 20. Shortly afterward, the US introduced a temporary global import levy, with indications that new tariffs modeled on last year’s EU agreement may soon follow.
Such rapid policy changes have added layers of uncertainty for EU exporters. Businesses across the bloc are reassessing strategies for the US market, which remains one of their most important destinations.
The latest figures illustrate how tariff barriers and legal challenges can quickly reshape trade flows.
While the 60% surplus shrinkage is eye-catching, part of it reflects temporary distortions rather than purely structural weakness.
European trade authorities will likely engage in further discussions with Washington to stabilize the relationship. For now, the data serves as a clear signal of the costs imposed by escalating tariff measures.