EU: Commission Proposes Increased Tariffs on Russian and Belarusian Peanuts
On March 22, 2024, the European Commission published a proposal that would increase the tariffs on imports into the EU of cereals, oilseeds and derived products —including groundnuts— from Russia and Belarus. Under the proposal, tariff rates on shelled and in-shell peanuts from Russia and Belarus would go from zero to 50%. The proposal will now be considered by the Council of the European Union.
EU: Provisional Agreement to Extend Temporary Trade Measures for Ukraine
On April 8, 2024, the European Parliament and Council reached a new provisional agreement to suspend import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU for another year, until 5 June 2025. The Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) approved the text the following day, and a plenary vote is expected in late April. If adopted, the regulation would enter into force on June 6, 2024.
India-EFTA: Free Trade Agreement
India and the Member States of the European Free Trade Association —Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland— signed a comprehensive Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in March 2024.
Russia: Export Duty on In-shell Pine Nuts
According to FreshPlaza, as of August 1, 2024, the Russian government plans to introduce an export duty of 25% or at least €80/MT on in-shell pine nuts. From August 1, 2025, the rate will increase to 50% or at least €160/MT. The measure is intended to promote domestic processing of pine nuts.
UK: Tariffs on Raw Almonds to Be Suspended
The UK government announced in March that it would suspend tariffs on raw kernel and in-shell almonds from all origins. Tariffs of 4% on in-shell almonds and 2% on raw kernels had been in place since the UK’s departure from the European Union in 2021. The suspension came into effect on April 11, 2024 and will remain in place until June 30, 2026.
USA: USDA Report on US Export Competitiveness in Select Crop Markets
In March 2023, the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released a report titled U.S. Export Competitiveness in Select Crop Markets. The report examines the export competitiveness of the top five exported US crop commodity groups —including tree nuts— and discusses current trade agreements and world events that have impacted global markets.