Global Trade Transformations and Bulgaria’s Participation in the EU Common Commercial Policy

Eduard Marinov

Economic Studies journal, 2026, issue 3, 128-152

Abstract: The article examines recent structural changes in global trade and their implications for Bulgaria within the framework of the European Union’s Common Commercial Policy. The analysis focuses on key trends shaping contemporary trade dynamics, including shifting trade flows among major economies, increasing uncertainty in the global trading system, and the growing importance of regionalisation and the reconfiguration of global value chains. Using comparative analysis of international trade statistics, the study outlines changes in the relative positions of leading trading economies and highlights emerging patterns in global trade relations. Within this broader context, the article analyses Bulgaria’s foreign trade performance since its accession to the European Union in 2007, with particular attention to the country’s participation in EU preferential trade agreements. Export, import, and trade balance indicators are examined in order to assess Bulgaria’s integration into the EU and global markets and to compare its performance with overall European Union trends. The findings indicate that although Bulgaria has experienced growth in trade volumes and deeper integration into European trade structures, its performance remains uneven and often below the European Union average in terms of export structure and market diversification. The article concludes that improving institutional coordination, increasing awareness of trade opportunities among firms, and supporting export diversification and participation in global value chains are important prerequisites for strengthening Bulgaria’s position in an increasingly fragmented global trading environment.

JEL-codes: F10 F13 F14 F53 O19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bas:econst:y:2026:i:3:p:128-152

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