Overview

• Effective Sept. 1, cork is excluded from the 15% U.S. tariff on most EU goods under a framework that designates it an “unavailable natural product.”
• The exemption followed coordinated lobbying by Portuguese diplomats and U.S. industry groups, including Patrick Spencer of the Natural Cork Council and the Wine Institute.
• Portugal produces about half of the world’s cork, and the U.S. imported $241 million of Portuguese cork in 2023, with just over 70% arriving as stoppers.
• A U.S. appeals court ruled that Trump lacked authority to impose the sweeping tariffs but left them in place as the administration appeals to the Supreme Court.
• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has signaled that other natural products such as mangoes or cocoa could be considered for similar relief if tariffs continue.