Mar 27, 2024UK suspends tariffs on all raw almonds
The United Kingdom’s government announced it would suspend tariffs for at least two years on raw kernel and inshell almonds from all origins, including the U.S., beginning April 11, 2024.
The Almond Board of California has been working for many years with the U.K.’s Nut and Dried Fruit Trade Association (NDFTA), the group that represents the U.K. processors buying California almonds. This past year, ABC provided factual information and trade data to NDFTA, which they used to officially apply to have tariffs suspended on imported almonds.
“We are grateful for our long-time partnership with the U.K.’s Nut and Dried Fruit Trade Association and appreciate the U.K. government’s approval of the application to suspend tariffs on almonds,” said Julie Adams, ABC’s vice president for global technical and regulatory affairs.
“This will certainly benefit U.K. consumers with increased availability of healthy almond products.”
The tariffs – 4% on inshell almonds and 2% on raw kernels – have been in place since the U.K. left the European Union in 2021.
U.K. trade officials on March 18 issued a list of commodities, including almonds, that will have tariffs suspended until June 30, 2026. U.K. officials said there is a possibility they will reassess before that date, possibly to extend the suspension or make a permanent change.
Estimates put the costs of the soon-to-be-suspended tariffs to U.K. importers at about $4 million a year. The suspension will allow U.K. importers to offer a more competitive price on raw California almonds to U.K. processors, and ultimately to consumers.
U.K. duties of 8-10% still remain on roasted almonds (which includes flavored almonds), 8% on marzipan and almond flour and 20% on almond paste.
“We plan to work with NDFTA to assess further tariff suspensions in the UK, and with other partners overseas to identify opportunities for additional tariff suspension requests to lower costs for importers and processors and boost demand for California almonds,” said Keith Schneller, senior advisor on trade policy for ABC.
For more information, visit almonds.com.
