Under the revised list issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce on 15 February, Greek products that remain exempt from U.S. tariffs on the EU include Greek olive oil, olive-oil related products, wine and related export products. Prune juice also received an exemption on the new list.
The Greek side has constantly emphasised that its agri-food sector has been hit disproportionately hard, that measures need to be taken to mitigate the repercussions, and that a positive agenda needs to be shaped with the U.S. to reduce tensions over trade.
Through the coordinated efforts of the co-competent Ministers of Development & Investments, Adonis Georgiadis, and Agricultural Development, Makis Voridis, and of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy, Kostas Fragogiannis, the Greek government raised the issue at the highest negotiating level, in direct bilateral meetings, and achieved the exemption that went into effect in October 2019 and will be carried over in the new revision.
The economic diplomacy that is one of the government's top priorities was exercised jointly by the co-competent Ministries, who worked to ensure that the organizations in Greece as well as the U.S. Administration were fully informed, leading to the acceptance of Greece’s requests. The Greek government’s efforts are continuing with intensive consultations on the elimination of tariffs on peaches which, as of last October, have been subject to a very high import duty by decision of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
February 17, 2020