On November 10, the European Union imposed an additional 25% retaliatory tariff on a variety of US agricultural products. This new tariff affects both fresh blueberries (HS 0810.40.50) and some frozen ones (those imported under the HS 0811.90.50 tariff lines Vacinnium myrtillus and SA 0811.90.70 Vacinnium myrtilloides y Vaccinium angustifolium ). This development will bring the total EU tariff on fresh US blueberries to 28,2%, and on listed frozen lines to 25%.

While both HS codes can be used to describe a “common blueberry”, HS 0811.90.50 V acinnium myrtillus is most commonly used to classify blueberries and blueberries, and HS 0811.90.70 Vacinnium myrtilloides It is most commonly used to classify velvety blueberry, velvetleaf blueberry, Canadian blueberry, and sourtop blueberry. Vaccinium angustifolium it is commonly known as wild blueberry.

It is important to note that the other main tariff lines for frozen blueberries, SA 0811.90.19.90, SA 0811.90.39.90 and SA 0811.90.95.70, are not included in the EU measure. Furthermore, the final EU tariff list did not include dried cranberries. This adjustment may reflect the reduced amount of retaliation sanctioned by the World Trade Organization (WTO). It was originally anticipated that the EU would sanction up to $ 11 billion in retaliation against the United States. The final amount was instead $ 4 billion.  

The NABC emphasizes that other frozen tariff lines may be available that are not subject to the EU's retaliatory tariff. Other lines applicable to frozen blueberries may include the following, some of which are still subject to high EU MFN tariff rates:

As a background, in October 2019, the Trump administration imposed tariffs on EU products following a successful ruling in the WTO against illegal EU subsidies to Airbus. This October, the WTO authorized the EU to impose similar tariffs on US products following the successful EU ruling at the WTO against illegal US subsidies to Boeing. The EU did not immediately implement tariffs and indicated that it would wait until after the elections to act. Now that the elections are over, the European Commission is proceeding with the implementation of retaliatory tariffs.

The NABC received confirmation that the UK will impose retaliatory duties as part of this EU action as long as the US tariffs on Airbus remain in place. However, it should be noted that the EU and the UK are keen to reach a resolution on this issue.