US nuts and dried fruits spared from EU countermeasures
In the wake of a new round of US tariffs affecting dozens of countries across the globe, the EU and the US have struck a framework trade deal that spares US nut and dried fruits from what would have been punishing European countermeasures.
As the clock ticked down on Donald Trump’s August 1 deadline for countries to reach bilateral trade agreements with the US, the EU and the US reached a deal that prevented European countermeasures against US goods —including hefty tariffs on all sorts of nuts and dried fruits— from coming into force.
Under the deal, a 15% tariff will be charged on most EU goods entering the US. According to an explainer published by the Commission on July 29, the 15% rate will be all-inclusive and represent a ceiling, including the most favored nation (MFN) tariff that was previously stacked on top of additional tariffs introduced by the US.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1727 immediately suspends the EU’s countermeasures, which had been set to take effect imminently, for a period of six months. Nevertheless, the regulation states that the Commission “should keep the suspension under review in light of further developments in the trade relations with the United States, and may take further actions.”
On August 1, Trump placed sweeping new tariffs on 70 different countries and territories, with rates ranging from 10% to 41%. The new duties, announced via executive order, will take effect on August 7. In a separate order, Trump raised the tariff on Canadian goods from 25% to 35%, effective immediately, with an exception for goods that qualify for duty-free entry under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Trump also issued an executive order imposing an additional 40% tariff on goods from Brazil as of August 6, with an exemption for good in transit provided they arrive in the US by October 5. Exemptions were envisaged for various products, including in-shell Brazil nuts.
Remember to visit the INC’s regularly updated Tariffs Timeline to learn about the latest changes affecting nuts and dried fruits.