Panel Discussion: Services in Global Trade – Europe’s Hidden Strength?

A new IW study, commissioned by the German Federal Foreign Office, shows that services accounted for more than 27 percent of total global exports in 2023, and roughly 33 percent in the European Union, highlighting their growing importance for Europe’s international economic position. At the same time, the EU has emerged as the world’s largest exporter of services,  with particularly strong economic links to the United States, the EU’s most important external market for services exports.

But the EU is also highly dependent on service imports from the US. Yet the role of services in international trade is often underestimated and the debate about critical dependencies mostly concentrates on goods trade. This is not least because many services are embedded in manufacturing exports and global value chains. Therefore, they remain only partially visible in conventional trade statistics. We will explore the strategic importance of services in global trade and economic relations. What role do services play in Europe’s trade performance, particularly in transatlantic economic relations? And what implications does this have for European trade policy and competitiveness?

PROGRAMME
14:30 Welcome
Pascal Kerneis,Managing Director,European Services Forum (ESF)

14:35 Study Presentation
“Trade in Services: Where Is the EU Strong, Where Dependent?”
by Samina Sultan, Senior Economist European Economic Policy and Trade German Economic Instiute (IW)

14:55 Panel Discussion

• Lucian Cernat, Head of Unit Global Trade in Goods, Technical Barriers to Trade, Customs & Origin DG TRADE
• Samina Sultan, German Economic Instiute (IW)
• Pascal Kerneis, European Services Forum
• VDMA European Office (tbc)

moderated by Alexander Radunz, Policy Officer,German Economic Institute (IW)

16:00 Closing & Networking Coffee

LOCATION
IW Brussels Liaison Office
Haus der Wirtschaft
Rue Marie de Bourgogne 58
1000 Brussels

Please register until April, 14th, 2026 under the following link.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.