Over the past decade, the European Union (EU) has deepened its participation in global value chains (GVCs), particularly through services in both backward and forward integration. Intra-EU trade has grown significantly, accounting for 42% of the total backward services index contribution and 64% of the forward services index (a 12.6% increase since 2010), while the US contribution to EU GVCs has declined. The EU-27 now holds a dominant position in the US services export market, contributing 54% of the US forward share, raising concerns about potential trade impacts under new EU-US tariff agreements. Within the EU, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg lead backward services integration, while Germany and France dominate forward linkages. Germany, in particular, serves as the most reliable intra-trade partner for other EU member states. Strengthening the EU’s single market is crucial to mitigating global trade instability and sustaining economic resilience
CATALAN PIERA Alba;
RUEDA CANTUCHE Jose Manuel;
2026-04-08
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC145722
978-92-68-38711-5 (online),
OP KJ-01-26-128-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC145722,
10.2760/7439991 (online),
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