The World Today
MERIDA, 19 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Regional Government of Extremadura has officially requested that the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, strengthen its efforts with the European Commission to obtain exemption from the 15% tariffs imposed by the United States on products such as cork.
In a letter addressed to the minister, the "particular importance" of this issue for the Extremadura cork sector is highlighted, where subfamily 4504 (agglomerated cork stoppers) is the most significant, with €27.6 million in exports to the US from Spain, of which approximately €20 million originate in Extremadura. This product is the main generator of added value within the sector.
The "concern" arises after the entry into force of new trade rules on August 7, which "still do not offer definitive guarantees regarding the exclusion of cork from these tariffs." However, European Commission sources quoted in the Portuguese economic press show a "firm commitment" to achieving this exemption, given that the United States depends "almost entirely" on imports in this area.
PORTUGAL HAS ALREADY INITIATED EFFORTS
Portugal has already initiated active negotiations with the European Commission, while Extremadura has received no official communication from the ministry indicating any steps have been taken in this regard, the regional government explains in a press release.
Thus, the Extremaduran government, in direct contact with companies in the sector, has identified this opportunity and urged the ministry to intervene to protect a "strategic" sector for the region.
Aware of the importance of this sector for Spain, and especially for Extremadura, the regional government requests the Ministry's institutional support to strengthen its efforts with the European Commission, with the goal of joining forces with Portugal and negotiating a possible exemption from these tariffs for cork and its derivatives.
The Minister of Economy, Employment, and Digital Transformation, Guillermo Santamaría, explained that the request is specifically for cork because "it is a product that the United States depends almost exclusively on imports to obtain."
