EU Tariff Framework Finalized for US Dried Fruits and Tree Nuts
Following formal adoption by the Council of the European Union on June 25, 2026, two regulations implementing tariff-related commitments under the August 2025 EU-US Joint Statement were published in the EU’s Official Journal on June 30 and entered into force the following day.
The legislation sets zero customs duties for selected US dried fruit products and introduces a 500,000 metric ton tariff-rate quota for US tree nuts entering the European market. Specifically, Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 sets a 0% customs duty for products including the following: dried sultanas (0806 20 30), dried grapes excluding currants and sultanas (0806 20 90), dried apricots (0813 10 00), dried prunes (0813 20 00), dried fruit – other (0813 40 95), and cranberries (2008 93). The tariff rate quota includes CN code 0802, which includes almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, pine nuts and pecans, whether shelled or in-shell, and CN code 200819, “Nuts and other seeds, including mixtures, prepared or preserved (excluding groundnuts)”—a category that includes roasted almonds and pistachios.
The main regulation will cease to apply at the end of 2029. By June 30, 2029, the Commission will present a comprehensive assessment of the impact on EU-US trade flows, tariff revenue and economic effects, including on SMEs, and will accompany it with a legislative proposal to extend the application of the regulations, where appropriate.
India Pushes for Preferential Tariff Access in Trade Talks With US
India is seeking preferential tariff treatment as negotiations on an interim trade agreement with the United States enter an advanced stage. According to officials cited by Business Today, New Delhi aims to secure more favorable tariff conditions for its exporters than those available to competing manufacturing economies, with both sides continuing discussions on the first phase of a potential agreement.
The issue was discussed during meetings between India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Both governments indicated that progress has been made in recent months and reaffirmed their commitment to reaching a balanced and commercially meaningful agreement. The negotiations continue alongside ongoing US trade investigations and broader discussions on tariff policy.
Brazil Faces Prospect of “Stacked” Tariffs on Goods Exported to the US
The United States has proposed a 25% tariff on imports from Brazil under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, in response to practices considered “unreasonable” in areas such as digital trade, intellectual property and market access.
The measure, announced in early June 2026, could be implemented by mid-July and would apply broadly across sectors, although certain products such as beef, coffee, energy and aircraft parts are excluded.
In addition, the proposal may be compounded by further tariffs of 10% or 12.5% linked to ongoing investigations into forced labor, raising the possibility of “tariff stacking” and significantly increasing the total duty burden on Brazilian exports.
These developments are expected to materially increase the cost of accessing the US market and reinforce the context of growing trade volatility, requiring companies to reassess market access strategies and supply chain configurations.
Source: Ernst & Young. (2026, June). Brazilian exporters consider how to navigate ongoing tariff instability in light of new US tariffs.
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Indonesia-EU Trade Agreement Progresses Towards Ratification
On June 29, 2026, the European Commission presented its proposals on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) with Indonesia to the European Council for their signature and conclusion. Following signature, the agreements will require European Parliament’s consent before they can enter into force. The Indonesian authorities are in parallel going through their own internal ratification procedures. Once ratified, these agreements will remove import duties on 98.5% of tariff lines and simplify export procedures for EU goods to Indonesia, including agri-food exports.
South Africa and China Move Towards Stronger Trade Cooperation
South Africa and China are expected to strengthen trade relations through new regulatory agreements, with discussions scheduled for this week between the South African Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and the Chinese Vice Minister of the State Administration for Market Regulation.
According to a report by the South African think tank tralac, the discussions are expected to include Memoranda of Understanding between China’s market regulation authority and South African agencies, including the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications and the South African National Accreditation System.
The report states that the agreements form part of efforts to enhance regulatory cooperation and support broader trade and investment relations between South Africa and China. It also notes that the meeting builds on the Framework Agreement on the Economic Partnership for Shared Development (CADEPA), signed in Beijing earlier this year, which paved the way for negotiations on an Early Harvest Agreement between the Southern African Customs Union and China.
