On 30 June 2026, Regulations (EU) 2026/1455 and 2026/1461 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2026 were published, adjusting the customs duties applicable to imports of certain goods originating in the United States of America and, furthermore, introduce a tariff quota and safeguard measures for certain goods.
The purpose of this regulation is to adjust customs duties within the EU, during the periods set out below, following the Joint Statement signed between the EU and the US on 21 August 2025.
Thus, from 1 July 2026 until 31 December 2029, Regulation (EU) 2026/1455, through its three Annexes, identifies the products for which the tariff will be 0% (Annex I), products subject to a mixed tariff, for which the ad valorem component is eliminated whilst the specific component is retained (Annex II); and products that will be subject to a tariff quota with preferential rates for a period of twelve months, commencing on 1 July 2026 (Annex III):
- Annex I (0% tariff) covers most chapters of the Combined Nomenclature
- Annex II (products for which the ad valorem component is eliminated) mainly identifies fruit and vegetables such as: fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, artichokes, oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapes and grape juice, apples, pears, cherries and plums, classified mainly under chapters 07, 08 and 20 of the Combined Nomenclature.
- The temporary quotas (preferential tariffs until a certain import volume is reached) provided for in Annex III to EU Regulation 2026/1455 include pork, bison meat, dairy products, cheeses, nuts, soya oil, animal feed, squid, salmon, prawns, hake, cocoa powder, teas and syrups, water and non-alcoholic beverages, and dextrins.
Furthermore, from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2030, in accordance with the provisions of EU Regulation 2026/1461, imports of lobsters, rock lobsters and canned lobster originating in the US will be exempt from import duties into the EU.
Importers who have cleared customs and paid import duties on lobsters, rock lobsters and canned lobster originating in the US between 1 August 2025 and 30 June 2026 may apply for a refund of the import duties paid.
How can we assist you?
The regulation set out in this note is of vital importance to companies trading with the United States, which will be able to benefit from the outcomes achieved through the EU-US Joint Declaration, both in terms of the application of tariff benefits (total or partial reductions) and the refund of duties paid, once these companies have verified compliance with the rules of origin for the goods traded, their tariff classification at both the point of origin (the US) and the point of destination (the EU), and the customs value of the goods.
Salinas & Partners, with over 30 years’ experience in international trade and customs, is at your disposal should you have any queries or comments.
