Greek PM hits out at US tariffs on feta and olives

    
• Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis criticized the USA's decision to impose tariffs on Greek products such as olives, olive oil, and feta, arguing that these items are not produced in the United States.
• The Greek economy is prepared for changes in trade with the USA, and the Prime Minister emphasizes the need for a unified response from the European Union.
• Export of Greek food to the USA accounts for approximately 31% of total exports, with table olives valued at $220 million.

Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, quoted by the ANA-MPA agency, expressed dissatisfaction with the USA's decision to impose tariffs on Greek products. He emphasized that olives, olive oil, and feta are not produced in the United States, which makes these tariffs pointless. "These products are not produced in the US, and therefore, it makes no sense to impose tariffs on them," stated the head of the Greek government.

Food constitutes about 31% of Greece's total exports to the USA. The export of table olives alone is estimated to be worth $220 million.

In an interview with the Financial Times, the Governor of the Central Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, warned that tariffs could slow economic growth in the eurozone by 0.5 to 1 percentage point. Prime Minister Mitsotakis stressed that the European Union's response to American tariffs needs to be well-thought-out to avoid a "spasmodic reaction."

On April 2nd, Trump announced 10% base tariffs on all imports to the USA, with dozens of countries subjected to higher tariffs. In the case of the European Union, the USA imposed 25% import tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars, as well as 20% on nearly all other goods, noted Reuters.

In 2024, the value of goods imported from the USA to the EU reached $354 billion, while exports from the EU to the USA amounted to $562 billion. The United States remains the largest export market for the EU.