Trade blocs & regional agreements · Customs union · since 1993
European Union (EU)
27 member countries · Headquarters: Brussels
- Members
- 27
- Combined GDP
- $21.2 trillion
- Population
- 451 million
- Share of world GDP
- 18.1%
About the region
The EU is a customs union and single market of 27 countries: one common tariff (TARIC) and common technical, product-safety and environmental rules. The EU–Vietnam FTA (EVFTA), in force since 1 August 2020, eliminates most duties on Vietnamese goods on a schedule. From 1 January 2026 the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its definitive period for iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen.
Member countries (27)
| Country | GDP | Population | GDP rank | FTA with Vietnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Germany | $5.05 trillion 2025 | 83.5 million | #3 | Yes |
 France | $3.37 trillion 2025 | 68.7 million | #7 | Yes |
 Italy | $2.55 trillion 2025 | 58.9 million | #9 | Yes |
 Spain | $1.91 trillion 2025 | 49.4 million | #12 | Yes |
 Netherlands | $1.33 trillion 2025 | 18.1 million | #18 | Yes |
 Poland | $1.04 trillion 2025 | 36.4 million | #21 | Yes |
 Belgium | $725 billion 2025 | 11.9 million | #22 | Yes |
 Ireland | $722 billion 2025 | 5.5 million | #23 | Yes |
 Sweden | $669 billion 2025 | 10.6 million | #25 | Yes |
 Austria | $579 billion 2025 | 9.2 million | #28 | Yes |
 Denmark | $463 billion 2025 | 6.0 million | #35 | Yes |
 Romania | $429 billion 2025 | 19.0 million | #38 | Yes |
 Czechia | $391 billion 2025 | 10.9 million | #42 | Yes |
 Portugal | $347 billion 2025 | 10.8 million | #46 | Yes |
 Finland | $317 billion 2025 | 5.6 million | #48 | Yes |
 Greece | $281 billion 2025 | 10.4 million | #52 | Yes |
 Hungary | $246 billion 2025 | 9.5 million | #55 | Yes |
 Slovakia | $155 billion 2025 | 5.4 million | #60 | Yes |
 Bulgaria | $131 billion 2025 | 6.4 million | #63 | Yes |
 Croatia | $105 billion 2025 | 3.9 million | #74 | Yes |
 Luxembourg | $101 billion 2025 | 686,970 | #76 | Yes |
 Lithuania | $95.2 billion 2025 | 2.9 million | #80 | Yes |
 Slovenia | $79.6 billion 2025 | 2.1 million | #87 | Yes |
 Latvia | $48.6 billion 2025 | 1.8 million | #101 | Yes |
 Estonia | $47.0 billion 2025 | 1.4 million | #103 | Yes |
 Cyprus | $41.2 billion 2025 | 1.4 million | #105 | Yes |
 Malta | $27.8 billion 2025 | 579,704 | #119 | Yes |
Combined GDP and population use each member’s latest available year (2025–2025); 27/27 members have GDP data.
Vietnam & the region
Vietnam’s FTAs (from this site’s FTA registry) covering members of the bloc – 1 in total:
- EVFTA – EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement
covers 27 of 27 members
Opportunities for Vietnamese goods
- CE-marked steel structures to EN 1090 (EXC2–EXC3) with ISO 3834 welding certification for factories, logistics warehouses and renewable energy.
- Furniture, textiles, footwear, electronics, seafood, coffee and cashew – EVFTA preferences with proof of origin (REX/EUR.1).
- Emission data for steel and aluminium (CBAM); traceability and the deforestation regulation (EUDR) for wood and coffee.
- Gateway ports: Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg, Valencia, Algeciras, Piraeus.
For reference, updated 10/2026 – check the importing country’s current rules before trading.
Vietnamese industries to source from
Vietnamese industries suited to the European Union (EU) market – factory directory, HS codes and tariff rates.
Major seaports of the region
Netherlands13.82 m TEU · Large#13Antwerpen
Belgium13.53 m TEU · Large#27Hamburg
Germany7.80 m TEU · Large#38Valencia
Spain5.48 m TEU · Medium#43Piraievs
Greece4.79 m TEU · Large#44Algeciras
Spain4.71 m TEU · Small#46Bremerhaven
Germany4.45 m TEU · Large#50Gioia Tauro
Italy3.94 m TEU · Large#53Foynes
IrelandLarge#57Messina
ItalyLarge#60Siracusa
ItalyLarge#65Las Palmas
SpainLargeBloc-wide agreements (53)
Trade agreements in force to which all current members are parties (WTO RTA database plus additional agreements).
| Agreement | Type / coverage | In force | Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU - Chile | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Feb 2025 |  +18 |
| EU - Kenya | FTA Goods |
1 Jul 2024 |  +18 |
| EU - New Zealand | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 May 2024 |  +18 |
| EU - United Kingdom | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Jan 2021 |  +18 |
| EU - Viet Nam Preferential rates | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Aug 2020 |  +18 |
| EU - Pacific States - Accession of Solomon Islands | FTA Goods |
17 May 2020 |    +20 |
| EU - Singapore | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
21 Nov 2019 |  +18 |
| EU - Eastern and Southern Africa States - Accession of Comoros | FTA Goods |
7 Feb 2019 |      +22 |
| EU - Japan | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Feb 2019 |  +18 |
| EU - Pacific States - Accession of Samoa | FTA Goods |
31 Dec 2018 |  +20 |
| EU - Armenia | EIA Services |
1 Jun 2018 |  +18 |
| EU - Canada | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
21 Sep 2017 |  +18 |
| EU - Colombia and Peru - Accession of Ecuador | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Jan 2017 |    +20 |
| EU - Ghana | FTA Goods |
15 Dec 2016 |  +18 |
| EU - SADC | FTA Goods |
10 Oct 2016 |       +23 |
| EU - Côte d'Ivoire | FTA Goods |
3 Sep 2016 |  +18 |
| EU - Georgia | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Sep 2014 |  +18 |
| EU - Moldova, Republic of | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Sep 2014 |  +18 |
| EU - Cameroon | FTA Goods |
4 Aug 2014 |  +18 |
| EU - Ukraine | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
23 Apr 2014 |  +18 |
| EU - Central America | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Aug 2013 |       +23 |
| EU (28) Enlargement | CU & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Jul 2013 | +17 |
| EU - Colombia, Ecuador and Peru | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Mar 2013 | +20 |
| EU - Eastern and Southern Africa States | FTA Goods |
14 May 2012 | +22 |
| EU - Korea, Republic of | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Jul 2011 |  +18 |
| EU - Serbia | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Feb 2010 |  +18 |
| EU - Pacific States | FTA Goods |
20 Dec 2009 | +21 |
| EU - CARIFORUM States In force for some parties | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
29 Dec 2008 |           +32 |
| EU - Bosnia and Herzegovina | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Jul 2008 |  +18 |
| EU - Montenegro | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Jan 2008 |  +18 |
| EU - Albania | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Dec 2006 |  +18 |
| EU - Algeria | FTA Goods |
1 Sep 2005 |  +18 |
| EU - Egypt | FTA Goods |
1 Jun 2004 |  +18 |
| EU - Lebanon | FTA Goods |
1 Mar 2003 |  +18 |
| EU - Jordan | FTA Goods |
1 May 2002 |  +18 |
| EU - San Marino | CU Goods |
1 Apr 2002 |  +18 |
| EU - North Macedonia | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Jun 2001 |  +18 |
| EU - Mexico | FTA & EIA Goods & Services |
1 Jul 2000 |  +18 |
| EU - Israel | FTA Goods |
1 Jun 2000 |  +18 |
| EU - Morocco | FTA Goods |
1 Mar 2000 |  +18 |
… and 13 more agreements.
Source: WTO Regional Trade Agreements Database (retrieved 14 Oct 2026) plus additional agreements maintained by the administrator. Lists agreements notified to the WTO and in force.