Trump's tariffs put the Catalan agri-food sector to the test

With the Trump administration's announcement of new tariffs,, the United States is turning back towards protectionism. The imposition of 20% tariffs on products from the European Union will hit categories that are strategic for Catalonia particularly hard — wine, olive oil and Fine Food — which make up a fundamental share of Catalan agri-food exports to the United States.

Trump's tariffs put the Catalan agri-food sector to the test, a scenario it already experienced between 2019 and 2021 with a 25% tariff, which translated into a 16.24% fall in Catalan exports and estimated losses of almost €26 million. As on that occasion, the strong positioning of much of what is exported — based on a value strategy and in the premium segment — should help cushion the impact of these tariffs.

The USA, a key market for Catalonia

The North American market accounts for 3.6% of Catalonia's total agri-food exports. In 2024 food and drink worth €558M was sold there, 25% more than the previous year and 125% growth in value over the past 10 years. It is the 7th destination worldwide for the agri-food sector and the third outside the EU. Categories such as wine (1st market), olive oil (2nd) and Fine Food products (6th) are pillars of this trade relationship. Prodeca maintains its commitment to this market for its importance in volume and value, and the agency stresses that the quality and Mediterranean character of Catalan products are assets that can offset tariff pressure.

Catalonia has more than 1,175 companies exporting food and drink to the United States, of which 432 are regular exporters. Most are SMEs, particularly vulnerable to the cost increases the tariffs bring, and could be forced to cut margins to stay competitive. The most exposed sectors — wine, oil and Fine Food — account for more than 370 regular exporters.

A collective response: support, strategy and resilience

Faced with this scenario, Prodeca's director, Dèlia Perpinyà, wanted to send a clear message to the sector: "A commitment to exporting is part of the agri-food sector's DNA. Now more than ever we stand alongside the Catalan companies that keep winning markets with quality and innovation. Trump's tariffs benefit no one, but with support and strategy we will make sure companies can stay competitive."

A view shared by the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Òscar Ordeig, who defended the sector's ability to adapt. "We will come through this. We will stand by the affected sectors and help them", he said. The minister announced that the Government is preparing "a response plan" " to help the affected companies and that they will meet socio-economic stakeholders on Monday, in line with the Spanish government's financial measures in the form of grants and loans and other measures the European Union is also preparing. 

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food and Prodeca have also called in the representatives of the Catalan agri-food organisations to a working meeting to set out the administration's actions and responses and gather the sector's main concerns. 

At Prodeca we will keep monitoring the situation closely and working with the sector and institutions to support exporting companies. We are coordinating with the Catalan Government and the European Commission to assess possible retaliation and additional support options.

In this adverse scenario with a strong impact on foreign trade, the Catalan agri-food sector's ability to respond will be more necessary than ever. Revisit the Catalan Food Trade report on the US market, with information on consumption trends, distribution characteristics, entry requirements for agri-food products, food regulations i tips for doing business there, among others.