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Cava, queso, olive oil and mariscos: Trump slaps extra tariffs on Spanish produce

The US government has released a list of Spanish goods that will be subject to extra tariffs in its ongoing battle with the EU over aircraft subsidies.

Published: 3 October 2019 15:14 CEST
Cava, queso, olive oil and mariscos: Trump slaps extra tariffs on Spanish produce
Photo: lunamarina/Depositphotos

Washington on announced it would put a 10 percent tariff on large civil aircraft imported from the four European partners of Airbus – Germany, France, Spain and the UK – after Wednesday's World Trade Organization (WTO) decision that ruled the company received undue subsidies.

The US trade representative's list includes more than 150 products, principally from those four nations but also across Europe, that will face a 25 percent tariff from October 18th.

President Donald Trump, tweeting early Thursday morning, called the WTO decision “a nice victory” and claimed the European Union has “for many years treated the USA very badly on Trade”.

The Trump administration intends to hit French, Spanish and German wines – exempting Hungarian Tokay – as well as the UK's Irish and Scottish single-malt whiskies with the tariffs.

Cheeses from across Europe, including pecorino, stilton, cheddar, reggiano and all blue-veined cheese but Roquefort – which is specifically exempted – will be taxed under the new rules.

Olives, olive oil and seafood including mussels, octopus and razor clams from Spain will also face the 25 percent tariff, as will Germany's coffee — both caffeinated and decaffeinated.

“Made in England” cashmere, woolen anoraks and bed linen from the UK will have the 25 percent surcharge added, while Germany's exports of industrial tools will be similarly affected.

READ MORE: US vows to put tariffs on products including Spanish olive oil, oranges and queso, in row over Airbus

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TRADE

Norway and UK strike post-Brexit trade deal

Norway and the United Kingdom have struck an agreement on a free trade deal, the Norwegian government announced on Friday.

Published: 4 June 2021 13:51 CEST
Norway and UK strike post-Brexit trade deal
Erna Solberg outside 10 Downing Street in 2019. (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL / AFP)

Negotiations over the agreement have been ongoing since last summer, and the Norwegian government said that the deal is the largest free trade agreement Norway has entered into, outside of the EEA agreement. 

“The agreement entails a continuation of all previous tariff preferences for seafood and improved market access for white fish, shrimp, and several other products,” the Ministry of Trade and Industry said in a statement.  

One of the sticking points of the negotiations was Norway wanting more access to sell seafood in the UK, while the UK wanted more access to sell agricultural products like cheese.

The latter was a problem due to Norway having import protection against agricultural goods. 

“This agreement secures Norwegian jobs and value creation and marks an important step forward in our relationship with the UK after Brexit. This is a long-term agreement, which at the same time helps to accelerate the Norwegian economy,” Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in a statement.  

 The United Kingdom is Norway’s second most important single market, after the EU. In 2020 Norwegian companies exported goods worth 135 billion kroner to the UK and imported around 42 billion kroner of goods from the UK. 

Norway has given Britain 26 quotas on agricultural products, but not for mutton and beef. The agreement does not increase the UK’s cheese quotas, state broadcaster NRK have reported. 

The agreement will still need to be signed by both the Norwegian and UK parliament. 

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