Between 2000 and 2006, EU27 exports of goods to Japan fell slightly in value, from 45.5 bn euro to 44.7 bn, while EU27 imports from Japan decreased by 17%, from 92.1 bn to 76.8 bn. As a result the EU27 deficit in trade with Japan declined from 46.6 bn in 2000 to 32.1 bn in 2006. The share of Japan in the EU27's total external trade in goods has fallen by a third between 2000 and 2006. In 2006, Japan accounted for 4% of EU27 exports and 6% of EU27 imports, and was the EU27's fifth most important trading partner.

Germany and United Kingdom largest EU traders with Japan

One third of EU27 exports to Japan in 2006 were machinery and vehicles and 30% were other manufactured articles, while machinery and vehicles accounted for three quarters of imports. At the detailed level, the main EU27 exports to Japan were motor cars, medicine and pork while the main imports were motor cars and parts, computer parts and digital cameras.

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany was by far the largest exporter to Japan in 2006, with 13.6 bn euro, or 31% of the total, followed by the United Kingdom (5.9 bn or 13%), France (5.7 bn or 13%) and Italy (4.5 bn or 10%). Germany (17.3 bn or 23%) was also the largest importer, followed by the United Kingdom (12.3 bn or 16%) and the Netherlands2 (10.2 bn or 13%).

Most Member States recorded trade deficits with Japan in 2006. The largest were observed in the Netherlands (-7.9 bn), the United Kingdom (-6.4 bn), Belgium (-4.3 bn), Germany (-3.7 bn) and Spain (-3.4 bn). The only significant surpluses were registered in Ireland (+1.0 bn) and Denmark (+0.9 bn).