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Market access
Creating new opportunities in markets abroad for EU exporters and in the EU market for developing countries' exporters is a key part of the European Commission's work
Free trade can only exist when businesses can actually access their markets. Being a promoter of open trade, the European Union wants to ensure that access to markets is facilitated for all.
Exporting from the EU?
Many of the trade problems which European exporters face are not just the traditional import tariffs or quotas but discriminatory or disproportionate regulations or standards. Removing these barriers is part of the EU's strategy to boost exports and promote growth and jobs in Europe.
The Market Access Strategy addresses these issues and its two main instruments are the Market Access Partnership and the Market Access Database.
More information in Export from EU
Exporting to the EU?
Equally important for developing countries are access to the EU market and benefiting from the global economy. The EU sees trade as an important aspect of its development strategy and offers a wide range of trade agreements to partners in the developing world.
To help exporters in developing countries seize these trade opportunities, the European Commission created the Export Helpdesk, a free online service providing information on how to access the EU market.
Export from EU
Market access for EU exporters
How European companies can benefit from export opportunities generated by trade agreements.
Export to EU
Market access for developing countries
The Export Helpdesk is a free online service to facilitate market access in particular for developing countries to the European Union.