The European Union’s goods trade surplus with the United States grew in April despite ongoing U.S. tariffs, while exports to China declined for the ninth straight month, according to Eurostat data released Friday.
The EU’s total goods trade surplus dropped to €7.4 billion ($8.5 billion) in April 2024, down from €12.7 billion in the same month a year earlier.
However, the bloc’s trade surplus with the U.S. continued to expand, extending a steady rise seen each month since January 2024. Both exports to and imports from the U.S. increased for a fourth consecutive month in April, although growth was slower than in previous months.
In March, EU exports to the U.S. had jumped 59.5%, likely reflecting a wave of stockpiling by American importers anticipating higher tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced sweeping tariffs on various trade partners, including the EU, in an effort to shrink the American goods trade deficit.
These figures highlight shifting global trade dynamics as tensions between major economies persist. While the EU continues to enjoy a trade surplus with the U.S., its exports to China remain under pressure.
