IFRA joins industry call to halt EU-US tariffs

IFRA has joined forces with dozens of other industry associations to call for a suspension of tariffs in the trade dispute between the European Union and the United States.

The 72 industry bodies wrote a letter to new US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to call for a suspension of tariffs to alleviate economic harms and help re-establish a cooperative transatlantic trading relationship.

The fragrance sector is impacted by the inclusion of some essential oils in the dispute.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary closures of non-essential businesses continue to affect the global economy, including our sectors which support millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic,” said the group of European and American associations. 

“The ongoing EU-U.S. trade disputes and additional tariffs, which continue to plague Trans-Atlantic trade, have made a bad situation worse. With the damages we have suffered last year and are still suffering, the current situation cannot be allowed to go on any longer.”

The groups called for the immediate suspension of these tariffs to provide an economic stimulus. 

“Our industries support a constructive and flourishing trade and economic relationship between the U.S. and EU," added the group.

"Removal of these tariffs will provide the positive momentum to reset the important bilateral relationship and cooperative efforts to address global economic challenges. In addition, a shared commitment to avoid new additional tariffs will create the necessary certainty and stability needed to grow the Trans-Atlantic economy.”