A Eurostat news release on 30 November 2009 showed that EFTA countries, taken as one trading bloc, were the second most important trading partner in services for the Member States of the European Union. In 2008, only the United States was more important considering the sum of exports and imports values. The total trade in services between EU-27 and the EFTA trading bloc represented more than the trade between EU-27 and the sum of Russia, Japan and Canada taken together. The main services imported and exported by the EFTA trading bloc and EFTA countries separately were services classified as "transportation" and "travel".

Moreover, in 2008, the EFTA trading bloc was not only among the most important trading partners for EU-27 in services but also for trade in goods. For goods the EFTA trading bloc was the third most important trading partner for EU-27. Once again, the United States was the main trading partner for EU27. The EFTA trading bloc was very close to the second biggest EU27 trade partner in goods, China.   

For goods, the export from the EFTA trading bloc to EU-27 was dominated by Norwegian "energy products". The most important export from Switzerland to EU-27 was "chemicals". The first rank of imported goods for all EFTA countries was products classified as "machinery and transport equipment".

Whilst EU-27 had a trade surplus with the USA in 2008, it had a trade deficit with other main trade partners such as EFTA, China, Russia and Japan.

For more information : http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-30112009-BP/EN/2-30112009-BP-EN.PDF

EU27- Figures on trade in goods and services by main partners in 2008

(bn euros)