European Commission Directorate-General for Trade

Moldova

The Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova was signed in June 2014 and has been in full effect since July 2016.

Since the Agreement's provisional application since September 2014 Moldova has benefitted from a (DCFTA) with the EU.

This preferential trade system has allowed Moldova to benefit from reduced or eliminated tariffs for its goods, an increased services market and better investment conditions.

Trade picture

• The European Union is Moldova's biggest trade partner, accounting for 54% of its total trade, followed by Russia (10%) and China (7%). Around 64% of Moldovan exports are destined to the EU market.
• Moldova ranks 59th among the EU's trade partners, with a total turnover of €4.7 billion in 2019, an increase of about 40% since 2015.
• The EU's exports to Moldova amounted in 2019 to €2.9 billion, an increase of 8,5% from 2018. Key EU exports are mineral fuels, electrical machinery and vehicles.
• The EU's imports from Moldova slightly decreased by 2,7% in 2018-2019, from €1.83 billion to €1.78 billion in 2019, but remains stable after a particular increase in the previous years. The main EU imports from Moldova are electrical machinery and equipment (notably insulated wire and cables), apparel and clothing and oil seeds (especially sunflower seeds).
• The number of companies involved in trade with the EU has continued to increase, with approximately 1 837 Moldovan companies exporting to the EU in 2019 up from 1 734 firms engaged in exporting to the EU in 2018.

EU and Moldova

EU-Moldova trade relations are determined by the free trade area set up by the DCFTA part of the Association Agreement.

The DCFTA sets up a free-trade area between the EU and Moldova in line with the principles of the World Trade Organisation.

The DCFTA allows for:

• The removal of import duties for most goods traded between the EU and Moldova
• Provides for broad mutual access to trade in services for both partners
• Both EU and Moldovan companies can create a subsidiary or a branch office on a non-discriminatory basis. This means they receive the same treatment as domestic companies in the partner's market when setting up a business.

An important part of the DCFTA is aligning Moldovan trade-related laws to selected EU legislative acts. The aim of Moldova's adoption of EU approaches to policy-making is to improve governance, strengthen the rule of law and provide more economic opportunities by widening the EU market to Moldovan goods and services.

Moldova and European Neighbourhood Policy

Moldova is a partner country of the Eastern Partnership within the European Neighborhood Policy. In 2014, the EU and Moldova agreed an Association Agenda, which will be soon replaced by a new Agenda. The Agenda outlines the priorities for reform in Moldova and is based on the commitments included in the 2014 Association Agreement. The reform progress in Moldova is documented by the EU in the annual implementation reports.

Committees and Dialogues

The EU and Moldova meet regularly to discuss issues and best practices when applying the DCFTA Agreement.

Association Committee in Trade Configuration

• 6th meeting – 4 Oct 2019: Agenda | Joint report
• 7th meeting – 20-21 Oct 2020: Agenda

Sub-committee on Geographical Indications

• 5th meeting – 17 Oct 2019: Agenda | Joint report

Customs Sub-Committee

• 5th meeting – 21 Nov 2019: Agenda | Joint Report and Conclusions
• 6th meeting – 25 November 2020: Agenda

Trade Sustainable Development Sub-Committee

• 4th meeting – 4 Jul 2019: Agenda | Joint Statement
• 5th meeting – 19 Oct 2020: Agenda | Joint Statement

More on the Implementation of the Trade and sustainable development (TSD) chapter in trade agreements - TSD committees and civil society meetings

SPS Sub-Committee

• 5th meeting – 19-20 Jul 2019: Proposed Agenda | Joint Report
• 6th meeting – 24 Jul 2020 : Agenda | Joint Report

 

Trading with Moldova

• Importing into the EU from Moldova
  • EU trade defence measures on imports from Moldova
  • Database on products subject to duty-free quotas
  • Database on products subject to anti-circumvention mechanism
• Exporting from the EU to Moldova
  • Export rules on food and plant health
  • Trade defence measures in force in Moldova
• The EU is present on the ground in Moldova
• Moldova is a member of the World Trade Organisation
• Trade SIA in support of negotiations of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between the EU and respectively Georgia and Moldova