Accessing EU markets
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Trade and Economic Security

Accessing markets

The European Union wants to make sure that accessing foreign markets is easier for everyone.

Trade topics
  • EU companies accessing world markets
  • Importing into the EU
  • Trade policy

The Access2Markets portal helps firms to trade beyond the EU’s borders. Take a guided tour of Access2Markets.

Fight against protectionism

The Market Access Strategy is part of the EU's efforts to create the best possible conditions for European firms to export around the world and to make sure international trade rules are enforced.

Trade and investment barriers

EU trade policy strives to remove trade barriers for European companies on foreign markets. Decisive and coordinated action towards third countries helps European companies to sustain their growth and to diversify their export markets.

Read our featured stories on how the EU, through its Market Access Partnership, helps to remove barriers.

The EU's main market access policies

Goods and services in the EU's export markets

The EU's market access strategy, removing of tariff barriers and non-tariff barriers such as technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Public procurement

Public procurement rules in EU trade deals, revision of global trade rules.

EU intellectual property protection & enforcement in non-EU countries

Intellectual property rights in world trade, patents, access to medicines, enforcement, geographical indications (GIs).

Rules on investment

The EU's investment policy, statistics, info on the new investment court system, EU membership of international investment groups.

Defending the EU market against unfair trade

Includes trade defence against unfair subsidies and dumping.

Taking action during international trade disputes

Bilateral dispute settlement rules, WTO-specific dispute settlement procedures, investment dispute rules.

Tune in to trade policy insights

What do rare-earth magnets, Irish hockey pucks, and Christmas trees have in common? They all highlight the vibrant trade between Canada and the EU — a partnership that’s grown far beyond commerce to tackle today’s global challenges together.

24/06/2025 | Episode 13 | 36 minutes

Trade-off podcast - Episode 10

Tom Moylan meets the new Trade and Economic Security Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, to discuss Mercosur, tariffs, and trust.

19/12/2024 | Episode 10 | 29 minutes

Latest news

  • Press release

At the first ever EU-Moldova Summit in Chișinău, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu agreed to deepen cooperation in the interest of EU and Moldovan citizens.

  • 1 min read

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