empty
16.05.2025 12:39 AM
The Euro Didn't End Up in the Junkyard

Chinese goods have flooded the European market, but EUR/USD bulls aren't alarmed by this. While the U.S. has reduced tariffs on imports from China, the weighted average tariff still sits at 39% — a notably high rate. As a result, Beijing is looking for alternative export routes and has found them in the EU. For now, Chinese goods may be routed through Southeast Asia and Latin America, but should the euro fear a shrinking trade surplus?

China's trade surplus with the European Union hit a record $90 billion between January and April. According to Chinese data, exports to the EU this year are the second-highest on record, with the top spot occurring in 2022 during the post-COVID recovery. Notably, the pace of exports accelerated once it became clear that Donald Trump would become the 47th President of the United States. China's trade deficit with Germany, which stood at over $18 billion in 2020, flipped to a $12 billion surplus by 2024.

China–Germany Trade Dynamics

This image is no longer relevant

At first glance, this inflow of goods into Europe suggests less money flowing in, which should, in theory, reduce demand for the euro and push its value down. But in reality, that's not the case. When the current account balance worsens, the capital account often improves, thanks to the principle of double-entry balance. This means more investment flows into the EU, supporting European stock indexes and helping EUR/USD rise.

Looking ahead, 2026 could be even more favorable for the euro than 2025. According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, U.S. tariffs will primarily hit Germany's export-dependent economy. However, fiscal stimulus packages under Friedrich Merz are expected to boost German GDP next year.

The U.S., by contrast, is heading in the opposite direction. Donald Trump believes other countries are cheating America. In reality, they receive dollars for their exports and reinvest them into U.S. securities. If the U.S. narrows its trade deficit, its partners' surpluses will shrink too. This would reduce their purchases of American assets, putting further downward pressure on the dollar.

U.S. Retail Sales Indicators

This image is no longer relevant

This is why neither the acceleration in U.S. retail sales nor the sharpest drop in producer price inflation since April 2020 is helping EUR/USD bears. Yes, inflation is slowing, but the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut rates while the economy remains strong. Eventually, the combination of high tariffs and borrowing costs will weigh the economy down. Should we be surprised by the USD index's downward trend?

On the daily EUR/USD chart, the battle continues around the lower boundary of the fair value range at 1.1215–1.1420. Bulls failed to break through on the first attempt, but a successful second try would increase the likelihood of a resumed uptrend and could justify opening long positions in the euro against the U.S. dollar.

Marek Petkovich,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

What to Pay Attention to on June 26? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

Very few macroeconomic reports are scheduled for Thursday, and the market this week has shown a clear intention to continue the upward trend that has lasted for five months. Yesterday

Paolo Greco 07:16 2025-06-26 UTC+2

GBP/USD Overview – June 26: July 9 Is Approaching

The GBP/USD currency pair remained stagnant for most of Wednesday. Let's recall an old technical signal: if the price updates a significant extreme and immediately pulls back, there

Paolo Greco 03:39 2025-06-26 UTC+2

EUR/USD Overview – June 26: Jerome Powell Said Nothing New

The EUR/USD currency pair remained completely calm throughout Wednesday. Let's recall that this week began with a storm, provoked—of course—by Donald Trump, who first announced a ceasefire between Iran

Paolo Greco 03:39 2025-06-26 UTC+2

The Euro Regains the Initiative

The euro is attempting to resume its upward movement, although not many economic reasons support this scenario. Inflation in May rose in line with the ECB's expectations, which only strengthened

Kuvat Raharjo 00:43 2025-06-26 UTC+2

The Dollar Walks a Razor's Edge

Markets were prepared for a ceasefire in the Middle East. But are they ready for the return of trade wars? Investors have come to believe in maintaining a universal import

Marek Petkovich 00:42 2025-06-26 UTC+2

Yen Is Back in the Game

The yen failed the test as a safe-haven currency. The Israel–Iran conflict triggered a correction in USD/JPY toward a downtrend. For most of the year, investors had the impression that

Marek Petkovich 00:41 2025-06-26 UTC+2

EUR/USD. Pushing the Limits: Buyers Target the 1.1630 Resistance Level

For the second day in a row, the EUR/USD pair is testing the 1.16 level, pressing against the 1.1630 resistance level (the upper line of the Bollinger Bands indicator

Irina Manzenko 19:03 2025-06-25 UTC+2

USD/JPY: Japanese Yen Weakens Amid Declining Demand for Safe-Haven Assets

At the moment, the yen remains overshadowed by the U.S. dollar.From the perspective of the Bank of Japan's domestic policy, the summary of the June meeting reveals that some policymakers

Irina Yanina 18:46 2025-06-25 UTC+2

Iran–Israel Ceasefire: What's Next for the Markets? (A corrective decline in EUR/USD and GBP/USD is possible)

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to play a significant role in influencing financial markets. A key point of concern is the stability of the ceasefire between Tehran

Pati Gani 09:43 2025-06-25 UTC+2

The Market Has Overcome the Barrier

Neither the story of China's DeepSeek, the White House tariffs, nor the Israel-Iran conflict could halt the victorious advance of U.S. stock indices. The Nasdaq 100 has already updated

Marek Petkovich 08:44 2025-06-25 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.