European Union removes ad valorem import duties on around 80% of Armenia’s exports from 10 October 2026 for two years.<\/p>\n
The European Union has removed its percentage-based import duties on a long list of goods from Armenia, under Regulation (EU) 2026\/2269, from 10 October 2026 for two years1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The European Parliament and the Council adopted the regulation on 7 October 2026, and the European Commission announced its publication on 9 October1<\/a><\/sup>. According to the Council, the measure frees up around 80% of Armenia’s exports to the EU1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n In short, many Armenian goods now enter the EU without import duty, as long as the shipment proves it is Armenian. Some farm goods are duty-free only up to a yearly limit in tonnes, and the normal duty returns once that limit is used up1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The regulation states its reason plainly. Since May 2026, Russia has introduced large-scale trade measures against key Armenian exports, including alcoholic drinks, mineral water, fruits and vegetables<\/strong>2<\/a><\/sup>. These measures cut Armenia’s access to its traditional markets and disrupted its supply chains2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The text says small and medium-sized businesses and farmers in Armenia have been hit hardest. It warns that the situation risks harming Armenia’s economic resilience and social stability2<\/a><\/sup>. The EU acted "in a spirit of solidarity with Armenia" and to help its exports find new markets2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The measure rests on the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the EU and Armenia. That agreement entered into force on 1 March 2021, and its trade part has applied since 1 June 20182<\/a><\/sup>. The Commission says the new duty cuts aim to help Armenia sell to more markets within that agreement1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The regulation works through two lists, called annexes. Each list gives the goods by their CN code, the number the EU uses to classify goods in its tariff2<\/a><\/sup>:<\/p>\n An ad valorem duty is a tax charged as a percentage of the value of the goods. This is the only kind of duty the regulation removes1<\/a><\/sup>. A specific duty, which is a fixed amount per kilo, litre or other unit, still applies1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n For the goods in Annex I, the duty cut applies directly, with no extra application1<\/a><\/sup>. The Commission advises checking each product’s CN code against the annexes and against TARIC, the EU’s online tariff database1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The regulation follows the list of duty cuts in the EU’s GSP+ scheme, a set of trade preferences for some developing countries, with some changes2<\/a><\/sup>. The EU removed certain sensitive products from that list. It also added certain farm goods that Russia has banned2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The first pages of Annex I show how wide the list is. It includes, among others2<\/a><\/sup>:<\/p>\n Some lines carry limits. Globe artichokes, for example, are covered only from 1 July to 31 October2<\/a><\/sup>. Codes marked with an asterisk can enter only under the conditions set by other EU law2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n Annex II covers eight farm products<\/strong> that are duty-free only within a quota2<\/a><\/sup>. The product descriptions in the annexes are only a guide; the CN code decides whether a product qualifies2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n A tariff quota is a fixed amount of a product that may enter at a lower duty, or none, in a set period. The Commission manages the Armenian quotas under Articles 49 to 54 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015\/2447, the EU’s detailed customs rules1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n Once the volume is used up, the normal tariff applies<\/strong> to further shipments1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The first quota period is short. It runs from the date the regulation entered into force until 31 December 2026<\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>. After that, the quotas run by calendar year1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The duty cut applies only to goods that have Armenian preferential origin. That means the goods must meet the rules of origin that apply between the EU and Armenia1<\/a><\/sup>. The importer must hold a valid proof of origin<\/strong> when the goods are declared1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\nWhy did the EU cut duties on Armenian goods?<\/h2>\n
EU-Armenia trade dates<\/h4>\n
What changes for Armenian goods at the EU border?<\/h2>\n
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Which Armenian products are covered?<\/h2>\n
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How do the tonnage quotas work?<\/h2>\n
What proof of origin must a shipment carry?<\/h2>\n
Proof of Armenian origin<\/h4>\n