opinion parliamentary committee, 15 January 2026
On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the adjustment of customs duties on the import of certain goods originating in the United States of America and opening of tariff quotas for imports of certain goods originating in the United States of America
Document AGRI-AD-782228 · (COM(2025)0471 – C100193/2025 – 2025/0261(COD))
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Veronika Vrecionová
AI:In short
The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development's opinion on the proposed regulation adjusting customs duties on US imports proposes amendments to protect sensitive EU agricultural sectors, ensure strict quota management, and strengthen monitoring and safeguards. It calls for continuous monitoring, possible suspension of preferences under certain conditions, and verification of origin to prevent abuse.
Position. The Committee proposes amendments to the Commission proposal to strengthen protection for sensitive agricultural sectors, ensure strict quota management, and add monitoring and safeguard mechanisms.
Key points
- Calls for systematic review and possible revision of tariff-rate quotas for sensitive products like citrus, dairy, and nuts, without setting a precedent.
- Reaffirms readiness for zero-for-zero tariff talks and additions to exceptions list for wine, olive oil, dairy, beef, honey, and spirits.
- States that the Joint Statement does not lower EU standards or change regulatory methods.
- Demands thorough monitoring of import flows and transparent, impact-assessed future tariff adjustments with stakeholder consultation.
- Requires strict quota management: subperiods, limited licence duration, volume limits per operator, no transfer of unused volumes, and pro rata allocation.
- Calls for strengthened control mechanisms to prevent abuse or mislabelling in preferential tariff measures.
- Raises concerns about WTO compatibility and the undermining of multilateral trade rules.
- Insists that imports comply with EU food safety, health, environmental, and intellectual property rules, including geographical indications protection.
- Requires immediate suspension if origin, traceability, or monitoring clauses are not complied with.
- Mandates the Commission to adopt an implementing act suspending preferences without undue delay in cases like increased tariffs or market disturbance, and to inform Parliament and Council.
- Establishes monitoring and corrective actions, including public data publication and regular reports to Parliament and Council.
- Requires verification of origin and an electronic system by 1 January 2028 to prevent transhipment.
Who is affected
- EU producers of sensitive agricultural goods like citrus, dairy, and nuts, who gain protection through quota management and safeguards.
- US exporters of agricultural goods, who face strict quota management and verification requirements.
- EU institutions: Commission must monitor, report, and possibly suspend preferences; Parliament and Council are informed.
Figures and deadlines
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Full text
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Text 102 paragraphs
AMENDMENT
The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development submits the following to the Committee on International Trade, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (2a) Several product categories, in particular fresh navel oranges, fresh clementines including Monreal, dairy products, cheeses and nuts, constitute highly sensitive sectors for Union producers, given their structural importance, exposure to international competition and vulnerability to market disruption. While this Regulation reflects the current state of commitments, the Union considers it essential that these product-specific arrangements do not set a precedent and remain subject to systematic review and further negotiations in future bilateral exchanges. Such discussions should explicitly allow for the revision, tightening or recalibration of the relevant tariff-rate quotas, volumes and accompanying safeguards, where necessary, in order to ensure the effective protection of Union producers and the overall balance of the agreement. |
Amendment 2
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3a) In this context, the Union reaffirms its readiness to pursue dialogue with the United States with a view to reaching a zero-for-zero tariff understanding in sectors of significant weight for the Union economy, notably in the agri-food sector. It is also important to provide for the possibility of additions to the list of exceptions to the 15 % baseline tariff, particularly with regard to the Union goods such as wine, olive oil, dairy products, beef, honey and spirits. |
Amendment 3
Proposal for a regulation
Read the rest (90 paragraphs)
Recital 3 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (3b) The Joint Statement commits both parties to work together to address non-tariff barriers, including streamlining requirements for sanitary certificates, but does not and should not engage the Union to lower its standards nor change the method of their setting, maintaining both parties' regulatory freedom. |
Amendment 4
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4) The Union has committed to eliminate tariffs on all United States industrial goods and to provide preferential market access for a wide range of United States seafood and agricultural goods, including tree nuts, dairy products, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, processed foods, planting seeds, soybean oil, and pork and bison meat. The Union and the United States have committed to negotiate rules of origin that would apply to these trade benefits. | (4) The Union has committed to eliminate tariffs on all United States industrial goods and to provide preferential market access for a wide range of United States seafood and agricultural goods, including tree nuts, dairy products, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, processed foods, planting seeds, soybean oil, and pork and bison meat. The Union and the United States have committed to negotiate rules of origin that would apply to these trade benefits. However, that opening of the Union market to the United States agricultural goods, without reciprocal measures and with unequal production conditions, raises significant concerns among the farmers in the Union. It is therefore essential to ensure thorough and continuous monitoring of import flows from the United States in order to assess their effects on the Union internal market and, if necessary, to activate safeguard, review and expiry mechanisms. It is also essential that any future adjustments of tariffs with the United States be fully transparent, based on ex-ante and ex-post impact assessments, include consultation with the affected sectors and broader engagement of relevant actors, to support a balanced and mutually beneficial partnership. |
Amendment 5
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4a) Having regard to the potential impact on sensitive market segments for agricultural goods in particular, the elaboration of the tariff quotas should take account of strict terms for their management. |
Amendment 6
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (4b) To ensure adequate and transparent management of the tariff quotas for agricultural goods in particular, having regard to the sensitivity of that sector, quota management should be implemented under the following conditions: (a) the annual quota should be divided into subperiods of monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly periods to prevent premature depletion; (b) the duration of import licences should always be limited to the subperiod of quota management per good, which is particularly relevant for sensitive agricultural goods; (c) volume limits per operator should be applied to prevent market concentration and ensure fair access; (d) in order to promote market stability and to prevent speculation, it should not be possible to transfer unused volumes between subperiods; and (e) import licences should be issued under the condition of pro rata allocation in case of oversubscription, with a ban on transferability, so that only genuinely interested parties will register and with a view to preventing fraud and speculation. |
Amendment 7
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (5) Accordingly, the Union should adjust the customs duties on imports of certain goods and open tariff quotas for imports of certain goods originating in the United States, adopting preferential tariff measures as referred to in Article 56 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council2. | (5) Accordingly, the Union should adjust the customs duties on imports of certain goods and open tariff quotas for imports of certain goods originating in the United States, adopting preferential tariff measures as referred to in Article 56 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council2. It is necessary for preferential tariff measures to be applied in a transparent manner, and for control mechanisms to be strengthened in order to prevent abuses or mislabelling. |
| 2 Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1). | 2 Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1). |
Amendment 8
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (7a) The Union and the United States are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system. The conclusion of this bilateral framework takes place outside the multilateral disciplines of the WTO and therefore raises concerns regarding its compatibility with the principles and obligations set out in the WTO agreements. The WTO’s dispute settlement and negotiating functions have, in recent years, been severely undermined, thus preventing it from fully performing its role as a fair and effective arbiter of global trade relations. |
Amendment 9
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (8a) All products covered by this Regulation are subject to the official controls and other official activities provided by Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council. They remain fully subject to Union legislation on food safety, public health, including animal welfare and animal and plant health, the environment and the protection of intellectual property, including geographical indications. Preferential tariff treatment should apply only where the United States maintains effective protection of Union geographical indications on its market, including safeguards against misuse or imitation. |
Amendment 10
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (8b) It is important for clauses guaranteeing the origin, traceability and monitoring of goods imported from the United States to be complied with, failing which this agreement should be suspended immediately. |
Amendment 11
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 c (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (8c) In order to safeguard the stability of Union and local agricultural markets, any tariff adjustment or quota expansion under this Regulation should avoid market disruptions, import surges, and unfair competition, particularly in sensitive sectors such as dairy, protected geographical indication products and animal feed. Continuous monitoring through Union market observatories, regular reporting, and structured consultations with affected stakeholders, including small and medium-sized enterprises and primary producers, are essential to ensure transparency and timely corrective action where necessary. |
Amendment 12
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 d (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (8d) When considering the reinstatement of tariff preferences under this Regulation, the Commission should take into account the principle of effective reciprocity and the need to ensure a level playing field between the Union and United States producers. |
Amendment 13
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 e (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (8e) Given that the Union has goods with protected designations of origin and geographical indications, including many high-quality goods with international recognition, it is essential that imports from the United States do not confuse consumers or undermine the value of the protected designations. The Commission should adopt all appropriate measures to protect Union goods with protected designations of origin and geographical indications. |
Amendment 14
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (9a) The United States administration has invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA, 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq.) to declare a national emergency and impose sweeping tariffs on imports, including those from the Union, representing an unprecedented expansion of executive authority in trade policy. Such use of IEEPA is currently under review by the Supreme Court of the United States, with lower courts having ruled that such tariffs exceed the statutory limits of IEEPA, raising significant questions as to their validity and duration. |
Amendment 15
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3a. For the tariff quotas for agricultural goods as set out in Annex III, the import quotas shall be managed by the Commission and the Member States as follows: | |
| (a) the annual quota shall be divided into subperiods of monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly periods; | |
| (b) the duration of import licences shall be limited to the subperiod of quota management per good; | |
| (c) quota management shall be carried out with volume limits per operator to prevent market concentration; | |
| (d) the transfer of unused volumes between subperiods or operators shall not be permitted; | |
| (e) import licences shall be subject to pro rata allocation in case of oversubscription. | |
| Where necessary, the Commission shall be granted the powers to manage quotas under the terms set out in this paragraph. |
Amendment 16
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| The Commission may adopt an implementing act suspending in whole or in part the application of Article 1 or Article 2 in the following circumstances: | The Commission shall, without undue delay, adopt an implementing act suspending in whole or in part the application of Article 1 or Article 2, and shall immediately inform the European Parliament and the Council thereof, in the following circumstances: |
Amendment 17
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (a) where the United States fails to implement the Joint Statement or otherwise undermines the objectives pursued by the Joint Statement, or undermines access of Union economic operators to the United States market, or otherwise disrupts the trade and investment relationship between the Union and the United States; | (a) where the United States fails to implement the Joint Statement or otherwise undermines the objectives pursued by the Joint Statement, or undermines access of Union economic operators to the United States market, or takes any measure that results in increased tariffs on goods originating from the Union, imposes additional tariffs or measures having equivalent effect, or otherwise disrupts the trade and investment relationship between the Union and the United States; |
Amendment 18
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (c) where the adjustment of the customs duties referred to in Article 1, or the opening of tariff quotas referred to in Article 2, results in the importation of a good originating in the United States in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to domestic production, and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry of the Union; | (c) where the adjustment of the customs duties referred to in Article 1, or the opening of tariff quotas referred to in Article 2, results, or is likely to result, in the importation of a good originating in the United States in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to domestic production, and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause serious market disturbance or downward pressure on producer prices, or serious injury to the domestic industry or the primary producers of the Union, including critical production sectors of the Member States such as the citrus fruit, table grape, dairy and fishery sectors and the Union goods with protected geographical indications; |
Amendment 19
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (ca) where monitoring of imports of agri-food goods indicates unfair competition or where market distortions are found to exist; |
Amendment 20
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. The implementing act referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply for as long as the circumstances referred to in paragraph 1 persist. | 2. The implementing act referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply for as long as the circumstances referred to in paragraph 1 persist. If such circumstances cease to exist, the Commission may adopt a delegated act to reinstate the total or partial application of the suspended elements of this Regulation. |
Amendment 21
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 3a | |
| Monitoring and corrective actions | |
| 1. The Commission shall ensure that any tariff adjustment or quota expansion under this Regulation does not undermine the stability of Union or local agricultural markets, or distort competition, or lead to import surges of sensitive agri-food goods, and shall give particular consideration to those already under pressure from existing United States tariffs such as dairy products and animal feed raw materials. It shall, through the Union market observatories, continuously monitor import volumes, price trends, evolutions in production costs for Union producers, impacts on supply chain sustainability and fair competition in the internal market, as well as compliance with origin and traceability requirements for agricultural goods covered by this Regulation. The Member States shall provide the Commission with the information relevant for establishing disruption in local markets for the relevant agricultural sectors. | |
| 2. The Commission shall publish a detailed, public breakdown of agricultural import data by product category, country of origin, tariff treatment, and tariff quota utilisation by ... [three months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation], and shall update this information on a quarterly basis thereafter. Every 6 months, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the progress of imports and exports, any market disturbances and the necessary preventive or corrective measures taken. The reports shall be based on available and up-to-date information, including structured consultation with the sectors most affected, in particular primary producers and small and medium-sized enterprises. By 31 December 2028, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council an implementation report assessing in particular the effects of tariff liberalisation on the functioning of the relevant markets, including effects on producer prices, rural employment, and the agri-food processing sector accompanied, where appropriate, by a legislative proposal to amend, suspend or repeal the period of application of this Regulation. | |
| 3. Where any evidence of adverse impact on the Union agricultural market or market disturbance or risk thereof is identified, the Commission shall immediately inform the European Parliament and the Council and shall take immediate corrective action. This may include activation of safeguard, review or expiry mechanisms, or compensation measures available under the Common Agricultural Policy crisis reserve, or partial or full suspension of Articles 1 and 2. If appropriate, the Commission may propose to revise or adjust the measures provided for in this Regulation. |
Amendment 22
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 b – title and paragraph 1 (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Article 3b | |
| Verification of origin | |
| 1. The Commission shall ensure that goods imported under this Regulation have been substantially produced in the United States and are not transhipped or lightly processed products from third countries. For this purpose, additional documentation checks shall be established. |
Amendment 23
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 b – paragraph 2 (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. By 1 January 2028, the Commission shall establish an electronic system for enhanced verification of origin to prevent redirection of goods from third countries through the United States. |
Amendment 24
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – title
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Entry into force | Entry into force and application |
Amendment 25
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| This Regulation shall apply until ... [36 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation], unless the European Parliament and the Council decide to extend it on the basis of a proposal referred to in Article 3a(2). |
Annex: declaration of input 1 paragraph
The Chair in her capacity as rapporteur for opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not include in her opinion input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
Procedure pages
How the committees handled the text, and how their members voted on it.
Procedure – committee asked for opinion 1 paragraph
| Title | Adjustment of customs duties on the import of certain goods originating in the United States of America and opening of tariff quotas for imports of certain goods originating in the United States of America | |
| References | COM(2025)0471 – C10-0193/2025 – 2025/0261(COD) | |
| Committee(s) responsible Date announced in plenary | INTA 20.10.2025 | |
| Opinion by Date announced in plenary | AGRI 20.10.2025 | |
| Rapporteur for the opinion Date appointed | Veronika Vrecionová 5.11.2025 | |
| Date adopted | 12.1.2026 | |
| Result of final vote | +: –: 0: | 30 5 9 |
Final vote by roll call by the committee asked for opinion 3 paragraphs
30 · For
- ECR
- Carlo Ciccioli, Carlo Fidanza, Ondřej Krutílek, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Veronika Vrecionová
- EPP
- Daniel Buda, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral, Herbert Dorfmann, Esther Herranz García, Krzysztof Hetman, Stefan Köhler, Norbert Lins, Gabriel Mato, Christine Schneider, Pekka Toveri, Maria Walsh
- Renew
- Asger Christensen, Barry Cowen, Jérémy Decerle, Elsi Katainen, Christine Singer
- S&D
- Stefano Bonaccini, Gheorghe Cârciu, Annalisa Corrado, Jens Geier, Maria Grapini, Dario Nardella, André Rodrigues, Elena Sancho Murillo
5 · Against
- ESN
- Arno Bausemer, Ivan David
- S&D
- Eric Sargiacomo
- The Left
- Sebastian Everding, Luke Ming Flanagan
9 · Abstained
- EPP
- Céline Imart
- Patriots
- Mireia Borrás Pabón, Valérie Deloge, Tomáš Kubín, Julien Leonardelli
- Greens
- Martin Häusling, Tilly Metz, Anna Strolenberg, Thomas Waitz