European Union trade with Switzerland

The EU has a trade surplus with Switzerland. In 1998, exports equalled 57 billion ECU, imports 49 billion and the EU trade surplus almost 8 billion. Trade increased from 1995 to 1998 (particularly during the last year), as exports rose by 12% and imports by 14% , but the trade balance has remained, on the whole, remarkably stable. First figures for 1999 indicate a further 9% rise in the value of exports to 63 bn euro and a 7% rise in the value of imports to 53 bn euro, with the surplus reaching 10 bn euro.