Finance
EU firms coping well with US tariffs, face obstacles within bloc, EIB survey shows
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 3, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 3, 2026
Quick Summary
An EIB survey of ~13,000 firms shows EU companies have absorbed the impact of new U.S. tariffs well and match U.S. peers on AI adoption—but high internal trade frictions within the bloc (equivalent to 44–110% tariffs) remain a major obstacle.
EU Companies Weather US Tariffs but Struggle With Internal EU Trade Barriers
Survey Highlights Challenges and Opportunities for EU Firms
Resilience Against US Tariffs
LUXEMBOURG, March 3 (Reuters) - European Union companies are coping well with higher U.S. tariffs on EU goods, but report problems with selling their products within the bloc itself due to fragmented rules and regulations, a European Investment Bank survey showed on Tuesday.
The survey by the government-owned EIB, Europe's biggest investment bank, also showed EU firms were just as advanced in using artificial intelligence as those in the United States, boosting their productivity.
Adapting to Technological and Trade Shifts
"The EIB Group Investment Survey 2025/2026 shows that EU firms adapted well to rapid technological advancement and the demands of the green transition, as well as sharp rises in U.S. tariffs," said the survey, based on responses from some 13,000 firms, collected between April and July last year.
Washington and Brussels struck a framework trade agreement last July, imposing a 15% import tariff on most EU goods - half the threatened rate, but countering Europe's initial hopes to secure a zero-for-zero tariff deal.
"When the United States raised tariffs, American firms expressed more concern than their EU counterparts. So far, the impact of tariffs has largely been absorbed by U.S. importers, with the effect remaining manageable for EU exporters," it said.
Internal EU Trade Barriers
But differing national laws between the EU's 27 countries have made it difficult for 62% of European companies to export their goods to other EU countries, showing how incomplete the bloc's single market for goods and services remains.
Impact of Fragmented Regulations
"Removing these barriers could boost the ratio of firm investment to assets by 10%, with even stronger gains for intangible investment," the report said.
Comparisons With IMF Findings
The findings are in line with research by the International Monetary Fund, which has said that internal EU barriers to trade caused by diverging regulations were equal to a 44% tariff on goods and a 110% tariff on services.
(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski, editing by Andrei Khalip)
Key Takeaways
- •EU firms have largely absorbed new 15% U.S. tariffs, with U.S. importers bearing the brunt, making impacts manageable.
- •EU companies are using AI at nearly the same rate as U.S. firms (37% vs 36%), yet depth of deployment lags behind (55% vs 81%).
- •Fragmented internal EU regulations act like high tariffs—estimated at 44% on goods and up to 110% on services—hindering intra‑EU trade and productivity growth.
Frequently Asked Questions about EU firms coping well with US tariffs, face obstacles within bloc, EIB survey shows
1How are EU firms coping with higher US tariffs?
According to the EIB survey, EU firms are managing well with higher US tariffs, as most of the impact has been absorbed by US importers.
2What obstacles do EU firms face within the European Union?
EU firms report difficulties selling products across the bloc due to fragmented rules and regulations among member states.
3How advanced are EU firms in using artificial intelligence?
The EIB survey found EU firms are as advanced as US firms in using artificial intelligence, boosting their productivity.
4What impact could removing internal EU barriers have?
Removing internal trade barriers could increase the ratio of firm investment to assets by 10%, with even greater effects for intangible investment.
5What does the EIB survey reveal about the EU's single market?
The survey highlights that 62% of EU companies struggle to export within the bloc, underlining the incomplete nature of the single market.
