By Lia Avagyan
Temporary EU tariff preferences for a range of Armenian goods take effect on October 10. In written responses to CivilNet, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos said customs duties would be suspended on around 80% of Armenian exports to the European Union.
What the EU preferences cover
The regulation, published in the EU’s Official Journal on October 9, grants tariff preferences to a broad range of agricultural and industrial goods originating in Armenia. The measures apply until October 11, 2028.
The initiative aims to help Armenia diversify its export markets following Russian trade restrictions.
According to the regulation, Russia has imposed restrictions since May 2026 affecting imports and transit of key Armenian exports, including alcoholic beverages, mineral water, fruits and vegetables. The measures have reduced Armenia’s access to traditional markets and disrupted supply chains, particularly affecting small and medium-sized businesses and agricultural producers.
The preferences cover fresh and processed food, certain beverages, textiles, clothing, footwear, jewelry, machinery and other goods. Eligibility depends on the customs codes listed in the regulation’s annexes.
Eight agricultural products receive tariff relief within annual quotas. These are 6,500 tonnes for fresh or chilled cucumbers and gherkins; 5,000 tonnes for fresh or dried grapes; 750 tonnes for the fresh pears specified in the annex; 7,000 tonnes for fresh apricots; 2,000 tonnes for fresh cherries other than sour cherries; 3,500 tonnes for fresh peaches and nectarines; 1,500 tonnes for fresh plums; and 2,500 tonnes for fresh strawberries.
For 2026, the quota period runs from October 10 through December 31.
The regulation temporarily suspends import duties calculated as a percentage of a product’s value. For the eight agricultural products, relief applies only within the specified quotas. The measures do not grant fully duty-free access to all Armenian goods.
To qualify, products must meet Armenian origin requirements. Armenia must also cooperate effectively with the EU in verifying evidence of origin.
Armenia must refrain from introducing new duties or trade restrictions on EU goods, or increasing existing ones, unless duly justified and notified to the European Commission.
The preferences are also conditional on Armenia respecting democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and fulfilling its commitments to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. If those conditions are breached, the Commission may temporarily suspend some or all of the preferences.
The EU may also impose safeguards if preferential imports adversely affect the market for similar or directly competing products in the bloc or an individual member state.
Maragos: Zero tariffs alone are not enough
In his responses to CivilNet, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos described the decision as a demonstration of the EU’s commitment to helping Armenian exporters diversify toward the European market.
“Autonomous trade measures of this kind are exceptional. But partnership means solidarity and the EU mobilized and acted on time to help Armenian producers to address the coercive measures they faced since spring,” he said.
The aim, he said, is to help more Armenian farmers, producers and companies find new buyers and make the country’s economy more diversified and resilient.
Asked which Armenian products have the greatest potential in the European market, Maragos said that would be determined by Armenian producers and European buyers and consumers.
The EU is helping companies meet European requirements, access financing and expertise, and establish connections with buyers, he said.
“Through trade fairs, business missions and B2B meetings, Armenian producers are already meeting European retailers and distributors face to face, and a number of them have secured their first contract,” Maragos said.
He described the two-year period as an opportunity Armenian businesses should use fully, while stressing that tariff relief alone would not secure a lasting foothold in the European market.
“A zero tariff is an important step, but on its own it will not place a product on a European shelf. What makes the difference is meeting EU standards consistently, offering reliable volumes, and building lasting relationships of trust with European partners,” he said.
Some companies could stand out through distinctive products and a compelling story, while others could join forces to supply larger volumes, Maragos said. Lasting success would require both well-prepared businesses and a supportive institutional environment.
EU assistance includes budget support, technical assistance, training, advisory services, and access to finance and investment, he said.
“Our aim and wish is that when these two years are over, Armenian exporters are well established in the European market, and that ‘Made in Armenia’ becomes a familiar and trusted label for European consumers,” Maragos said.
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