Annex: The European Union in the World The European Union is globally interconnected like no other association of states. Although the EU's share of world trade has fallen slightly in recent years, it remains at a high level and represents an important foundation for the EU's growth, competitiveness and employment. Although the EU population accounts for just under six percent of the world's population 36, in 2020, the EU's total exports (goods) accounted for 31 percent of global exports (including intra-EU trade). In 2020, the European Union thus ranked first, ahead of China (14.7 %) and the United States, whose share was 8.1 percent. In 2020, the EU's total imports (goods) amounted to 28.8 percent of global imports (including intra-EU trade). In 2020, the European Union was thus well ahead of the U.S. at 13.5 percent. China ranked third with a share of 11.5 percent.37 EU exports secured 36 million jobs in Europe in 2017. This figure has increased by two-thirds since 2000.38 The export ratio of the 27 EU Member States – the ratio of exports of goods and services to gross domestic product (GDP) – was 46.7 percent in 2020.39 This corresponds to a minus of 2.7 percent compared to the previous year. However, imports are also important for the EU-27: The import ratio – the ratio of imports to GDP – was 42.7 percent in 2020 – down two percent on the previous year.40 These figures underline the importance of trade for the EU. According to initial estimates, extra-EU goods exports amounted to 148.3 billion euros in January 2021, a decrease of 10.8 percent compared to January 2020. Imports from the rest of the world amounted to 139.9 milli- billion euros, a decrease of 16.9 percent compared to January 2020. The EU registered a surplus of 8.4 billion euros in trade in goods with the rest of the world in January 2021. Compared to January 2020, intra-EU trade in January 2021 decreased by 5.4 percent to 244.9 billion euros.41 Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, imports and exports decreased in 2020 compared to 2019. As a result, the real GDP growth rate registered a decline of 6.1 percent in 2020.42 EU exports recorded a decline of 9.3 percent. EU imports also decreased by 7.1 percent compared to the previous year.43 In 2020, China was the European Union's most important trading partner overall, accounting for 16.1 percent of the EU's total external trade. The USA (15.2 %) and the United Kingdom (12.2 %) followed in second and third place. With a share of 18.3 percent of all EU exports, the United States was the top destination for European goods exports in 2020, followed by the United Kingdom (14.4%) and China (10.5%). The leading supplier of goods to the EU in 2020 continued to be China, with a share of 22.4 percent of all EU imports. The volume of goods imports from China was thus almost double that of the United States,
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Worldbank, Population, total, <https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL> (accessed 12 April 2021). World Trade Organization, Merchandise exports by product group – annual (Million U.S. Dollar) und Merchandise imports by product group – annual (Million U.S. Dollar), <https://data.wto.org/> (accessed 15 April 2021). 38 European Commission, Studie: Internationaler Handel sichert über 36 Millionen Arbeitsplätze in der EU, <https://ec.europa.eu/germany/news/20181127-handel-36-millionen-jobs-der-eu_de> (accessed 13 April 2021). 39 Eurostat, Exports of goods and services in % of GDP, <https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tet00003/default/table?lang=en> (accessed 13 April 2021). 40 Eurostat, Imports of goods and services in % of GDP, <https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tet00004/default/table?lang=en> (accessed 13 April 2021). 41 Eurostat, Überschuss des Euroraums im internationalen Warenverkehr in Höhe von 6,3 Mrd. Euro, Press release 35/2021, <https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/11562995/6-18032021-BP-DE.pdf/cb022f21-7d8c-148f-65380e463c86a782?t=1616088646979 > (accessed 13 April 2021). 42 Eurostat, Real GDP growth rate – volume, < https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-datasets/-/tec00115&lang=en> (accessed 21 April 2021). 43 Federal Statistical Office, Zusammenfassende Übersichten für den Außenhandel: Vorläufige Ergebnisse, Fachserie 7 Reihe 1, <https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Wirtschaft/Aussenhandel/Publikationen/Downloads-Aussenhandel/zusammenfassende-uebersichten-jahr-vorlaeufig-xlsx-2070100.html>, (accessed 13 April 2021). 37
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