It was announced today from the World Trade Organization (WTO) that on October 18, 2019, the U.S. will start to impose tariffs on up to $7.5 billion of goods from the European Union. This comes after subsidies were given to Airbus that created a competitive disadvantage for California Citrus and a multitude of other products.
This will benefit California citrus as the U.S. will place a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on oranges, mandarins, clementines, and lemons imported from all EU countries, besides France. In 2018, Spain imported over 15,000 metric tons, approximately $20 million into the United States. This could positively affect the first quarter of the California citrus season.