While public attention is currently focused on the Washington administration’s trade wars and transatlantic tariff policies, the EU is also pursuing a distinctly protectionist course. Significant trade barriers remain not only toward non-members but also within the EU’s internal market itself. These barriers can amount to several dozen percent, despite the EU being presented as a single market.

Key Takeaways:

• For the United States, tariffs are not only a protectionist tool but also a way to address an acute fiscal challenge. U.S. debt now exceeds 120% of GDP.
• Significant barriers remain in trade relations between eurozone members and non-members, highlighting substantial room for deeper external integration.
• Trade barriers within the eurozone range from 55% to 70% and have been steadily rising since 2015.

Policy Paper – Martin Zeman

The analysis is in PDF under the link below.