Europe is not just sending planes full of tourists to Arizona. This week it sent one of its top diplomats. Jovita Neliupšienė, the European Union’s ambassador to the United States, spent several days in Phoenix speaking at a circular economy forum and meeting with state and city leaders as Europe’s economic ties to Arizona keep deepening. Her visit spotlighted a trade relationship that moved billions of dollars in goods and services last year and highlighted local industries, from aerospace to semiconductors, that depend on European suppliers.
Forum and local meetings
Event listings show Neliupšienė appeared in Phoenix at a sustainability forum on April 23 alongside Mayor Kate Gallego and other regional leaders. The Tempe Chamber of Commerce noted the program took place at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center and focused on water security, clean energy and climate resilience. Organizers described the Phoenix gathering as a Southwestern follow up to an inaugural forum co hosted with Maryland last year.
Ambassador pushes circular solutions and jobs
At the forum, Neliupšienė urged U.S. and European officials to scale up recycling of critical minerals and rare earths, arguing that reuse can cut costs by roughly 40% and sharply reduce energy use. As reported by KJZZ, she also emphasized the number of jobs tied to EU investment in Arizona and framed recycling as both an economic opportunity and a conservation strategy. The ambassador thanked state leaders for hosting discussions on practical steps that could be scaled quickly in the Southwest.
Arizona's trade numbers
Arizona shipped about $9.8 billion in goods to the European Union in 2025 while importing roughly $6.8 billion, creating a state level surplus of about $3 billion, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority. Those totals put the EU just behind Mexico as an export market for Arizona, with top exports including aerospace products and professional, scientific and technical services. Officials say strengthening those ties could bring more investment and more good paying jobs to the state.
Why chips matter to Arizona
European firms supply lithography machines, robotics and other high end equipment that Arizona’s chip fabs and data center builders rely on. ASML, the Dutch maker of advanced lithography systems, has major U.S. operations in the Phoenix region. The company’s Chandler support center services tools used by local fabs, underscoring how transatlantic supply chains are firmly anchored in the Valley of the Sun. That technical dependence is one reason trade policy and recycling of critical minerals carry real weight for Arizona employers.
Tariffs and supply chain uncertainty
Business leaders say those ties sit alongside new trade rules and political uncertainty. A broad U.S. EU framework announced in Scotland in July 2025 set a 15% tariff ceiling on many EU exports, a development covered at the time by outlets including Al Jazeera. At the same time, U.S. and EU officials signed a preliminary memorandum on critical minerals on April 24, Reuters reported, in a move aimed at securing supply chains for batteries, chips and other advanced manufacturing. Together, the tariff framework and minerals agreement give companies fresh variables to factor into investment decisions.
What local leaders say
“Arizona is a global leader in technology and economic development,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said in a statement quoted by KJZZ, noting the state’s commitment to attracting investment and building family sustaining jobs. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego met with the ambassador during the visit, and local organizers characterized the sessions as practical, outcome oriented conversations on recycling, critical minerals and industry cooperation, according to the Tempe Chamber listing.
For Arizona businesses and officials, the ambassador’s appearances, and the policy moves in Washington and Brussels, are more than photo ops. They are data points for planning where components, talent and investment will flow next. As tariffs and trade rules shift, officials and business leaders said that practical cooperation on recycling and minerals could help Arizona retain jobs and expand new industries rooted in the state.
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