China: Tariffs Applied to US Dried Fruits After Trump-Xi Meeting
According to the China Chamber of Commerce of Import & Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-Products (CFNA), following the October meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, China has reduced its tariffs on dried fruit imports from the US by 10% compared with the first half of the year. The following tariffs are now applied to US dried fruits entering China:
| Product | Basic tariff (MFN) | Updated tariff on US goods, including MFN rate |
| Raisins | 10% | 35% |
| Prunes | 25% | 50% |
| Cranberries | 15% | 25% |
| Dried figs | 30% | 55% |
| Processed fruit | 5% | 15% |
For information about China’s updated tariffs on US nuts, see this INC Tariff Report from earlier this month.
EU-MERCOSUR: Parliamentary Committee Adopts Position on Safeguard Mechanisms
On December 16, 2025, the European Parliament approved a draft regulation that sets out how the EU can temporarily suspend tariff preferences on agricultural imports from MERCOSUR countries—Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—if these imports harm EU producers.
The text adopted by the plenary session of Parliament included amendments previously introduced by the International Trade Committee. These amendments include requiring the Commission to launch an investigation into the need for protection measures when imports of sensitive agricultural products increase by 5% on a three year average (compared to 10% per year in the original Commission proposal). The Committee also reduced the duration of these investigations from six to three months generally, and from four to two months in case of sensitive products. Finally, the Committee adopted an amendment saying that safeguards could take the form of a reciprocity obligation for MERCOSUR countries to apply EU production standards.
Negotiations will now begin with the Council on the final form of the legislation.
USA: Framework Trade Deals With Four Western Hemisphere Trading Partners
In November, the United States agreed on framework trade deals with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala.
Under the terms agreed, Argentina will provide preferential market access for US goods, including a wide range of agricultural products. The US and Argentina also committed to work together to address non-tariff barriers affecting trade in food and agricultural products.
Ecuador will remove or decrease a tariff barriers on a range of US goods, including tree nuts. The country is also reforming its import licensing and facility registration systems for food and agricultural products to enhance transparency and predictability and reduce barriers to US agriculture exports.
El Salvador will address and prevent non-tariff barriers to US agricultural products in its market, including with regard to fumigation requirements, facility registration, product registration, and acceptance of currently agreed certificates issued by US regulatory authorities.
Finally, Guatemala will address and prevent barriers to US agricultural products in its market, including with regard to US regulatory oversight and acceptance of currently agreed certificates issued by US regulatory authorities. Moreover, Guatemala has committed to maintain science- and risk-based regulatory frameworks and efficient authorization processes for agricultural products.
Before the respective agreements can enter into force, the texts must be finalized for signature and each country must complete its domestic formalities.