The European Union has become the world's largest trading power.

Omissions

• The claim aggregates goods and services: the EU leads in combined goods-and-services trade and is by far the largest exporter of services (~36% of global services exports), but in goods trade alone China ranks first (China ~15%, EU ~13.5%, US ~13.2% of global goods trade).
• The claim does not specify a reference period; the most recent figures available describe 2024-2025.
• The framing matches the European Commission's own official self-description, so it is an institutional talking point rather than an independently coined statistic.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission – Directorate-General for Trade: EU position in world tradeThe EU is the world's largest trading bloc. The EU is the world's largest trader of manufactured goods and services. The EU ranks first in both inbound and outbound international investments.
• PrimaryEurostat – World trade in goods and services: an overviewIn 2024, international trade in goods and services was equivalent to 21.4% of the EU's GDP. The EU's share of world exports of goods and services was 17.0%.
• SecondaryCouncil of the European Union – The EU's role in global trade (infographic)The EU's share in global trade in goods was 13.5% - after China (15%) and slightly ahead of the US (13.2%).