29/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - Slow down in EU external trade in services in 2009. In 2009, EU external trade in services slowed down compared with 2007 and 2008. EU exports of services to the rest of the word fell by 10%, from €524 billion in 2008 to €473 billion in 2009, and imports by 8%, from €446 billion to €409 billion. As a result, EU trade in services recorded a reduced surplus of €63 billion in 2009, compared with surpluses of €78 billion in 2008 and €87 billion in 2007. The decreased surplus in 2009 was mainly due to smaller surpluses in financial services, “other business services”, which includes miscellaneous business, professional & technical services and transport. (E.H./transl.rt)