The European Union has formally requested that the United States grant exemptions from its current 15 percent tariff rate for a variety of export products. EU trade spokesman Olof Gill confirmed on Wednesday that the bloc is actively engaging with American officials regarding a comprehensive list of goods for which it believes tariff reductions are achievable.
The proposed list of products includes a variety of food and beverage items, such as beer, spirits, wine, olive oil, and olives. Notable European cheeses, including Pecorino and Roquefort, are also included in the request. Beyond food products, the list extends to medical equipment and devices. According to Gill, these discussions are aimed at identifying as many areas as possible where tariffs can be reduced or eliminated to benefit exporters and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.
The scope of the goods covered by the proposed list is estimated at approximately 115 billion euros, or 131 billion dollars. This follows the implementation of a trade pact by the EU in July, which had been delayed for months due to a US Supreme Court decision and threats made by US President Trump regarding Greenland. Last year, the European Union exported a total of 554 billion euros worth of goods to the United States.
Now the EU said it wanted more exemptions from the 15 percent tariff rate on its exports, confirming a report by European news outlet Euractiv.
