62% of Europeans Report Benefiting from International Trade

According to the latest Eurobarometer on this topic, 62% of Europeans state that they benefit from international trade due to reasons such as a wider consumer choice and more affordable products.

Strong Support for the EU’s Role in Trade Negotiations

Support for the EU’s central role in negotiating and defending the interests of its member states remains strong: 74% of Europeans agree that the EU is more effective in protecting member states’ trade interests than if they acted alone.

Reasons for Benefiting from International Trade

The two main reasons respondents believe they benefit from international trade are:

• A wider selection of consumer products (55%)
• Lower prices on imported goods (40%)

The Need for International Trade Rules

A vast majority—82% of EU citizens—believe that international trade rules are necessary. Among them:

• 50% agree that these rules help create fair competition conditions for countries and businesses
• 32% agree that international trade rules are necessary but consider it naive to expect others to comply with them

The Purpose of EU Trade Policy

When asked about the primary purpose of the EU’s trade policy, respondents identified the following priorities:

• 35%: Protecting the health of people, animals, and plants
• 27%: Safeguarding national security
• 18%: Protecting sensitive technologies
• 17%: Combating climate change

(Photo: AI Generator)