Feb 19, 2020
The United States Trade Representative extended the exemption status of Greek olive oil from tariffs imposed on imported E.U. agricultural products after it was first excluded from the sanctions regime in October 2019.
The revised list of E.U. products under sanctions also excludes other Greek products from import taxes, like cheese, wine, plum juice, and more olive-related products.
“This is an important development, where the Prime Minister was personally involved,” Makis Vorides, the minister of agriculture, said.
Sources at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in turn that the exemption was the result of coordinated efforts by several ministers and came after bilateral negotiations between the Greek Government and the U.S. Administration.
The Greek agri-food sector has been disproportionately hit by the trade war between the United States and the European Union, the spokesperson said, and Greece is looking to create a positive trading framework with the U.S. to mitigate the consequences on the sector.
