The paper defines the main asymmetries of foreign trading interests of European countries, which have objectively deepened in response to globalization processes. The lack of common technique for determination of interests, including those in the field of foreign trade, makes their evaluation and identification of asymmetries topical. An algorithm for formation and evaluation of foreign trading interests of the country is proposed, which includes both objective national needs in foreign trade, taking into account the foreign trade potential and institutional support, and an analysis of risk factors associated with impacts of the internal and external environments. The authors evaluated asymmetries of foreign trading interests of European countries in quantitative terms (an analysis of foreign trade flows of goods and services for export and import) and qualitative terms (the sectoral and geographic structures of foreign trade in goods and services; an impact of foreign trade on economic growth, investment activity and human development).