The United Kingdom is the European Union's second-largest trading partner.

Omissions

• The 'second-largest' ranking depends on including services: in goods alone the UK was the EU's third-largest trading partner in 2025, behind the United States (18% of EU goods trade) and China (15%), with the UK at 10% (Destatis, based on Eurostat data, updated 9 April 2026).
• The European Commission statement that the UK is the EU's 'second-biggest trading partner' refers to 2024 (13.1%), i.e. the most recent year cited on that page for the ranking; 2025 goods data published before the session already show the UK in third place on a goods-only basis.
• The claim does not specify whether trade in services is included, which is decisive for the ranking (the UK is the EU's largest services trading partner).

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission — DG Trade, EU trade relations with the United KingdomIn 2024, the UK was the EU's second-biggest trading partner (13.1%), after the United States (23.3%) but before China (10.7%). The EU's surplus trade in goods with the UK amounted to €186.8 billion in 2025.
• PrimaryEurostat — International trade in goods (Statistics Explained)The United States remained the largest destination for goods exported from the EU in 2025 with a share of 21.0%. The United Kingdom came second (13.1% of the EU total), followed by Switzerland (8.3%). China was the largest supplier of goods into the EU in 2025 with a share of 22.3%.
• PrimaryDestatis (German Federal Statistical Office) — EU foreign trade 2025, based on Eurostat dataThe US are the most important trading partners of the European Union: in 2025, the EU and the US traded goods worth €910.4 bn (imports plus exports). This represents 18% of all EU trade in goods... Other major trading partners of the EU-27 in 2025 were the United Kingdom (10%), Switzerland (7%) and Turkey (4%). Last updated: April 09, 2026.