Review of autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas scheme for agricultural goods

Call for evidence: Autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas scheme for industrial and agricultural goods – evaluation [scroll down the EU webpage to download]

Update

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence from stakeholders as part of a review of its autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas scheme (ATSQ) for agricultural and industrial goods. This scheme reduces or suspends import tariffs on a set quantity of products (quota) for certain strategic raw materials that are not produced, or insufficiently produced, in the European Union (EU).

The Commission’s evaluation will assess whether the scheme is effective and responsive to current EU needs. It aims to simplify administrative arrangements and reduce costs of compliance.

Interested stakeholders can provide feedback until 8 October 2026.

Impacted Products

Agricultural products identified by the EU as critical raw materials

What is changing?

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence inviting stakeholders to provide information and views on the current impact of the autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas (ATSQ) scheme.

The ATSQ scheme allows the EU to reduce or suspend import tariffs for a given quantity of products (raw materials, semi-finished products, or components) that are considered to be strategically important for European production chains. The targeted products must be unavailable in the EU, or not produced there in sufficient quantities, and they must be used to manufacture goods in the EU with high EU added value.

Why?

As there have been changes in the EU’s policy priorities and market patterns, and in the economic, industrial, trade, and geopolitical context, the Commission is evaluating the ATSQ scheme to determine whether it is still effective and fit for purpose. It will assess whether the scheme continues to meet its core objectives as set out in the 2011 Communication concerning autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas. The findings will inform the revision of the scheme.

Timeline

The European Commission plans to formally adopt the outcome of the evaluation in the first quarter of 2027.

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

In recent years, very few agricultural products have been included in the ATSQ scheme. In 2026, import tariffs were suspended only on mushrooms of the species Auricularia polytricha (see Tariff quotas on certain agricultural products).

The immediate impact of the revised scheme is therefore expected to be limited. However, some low- and middle-income countries have previously expressed concerns that such tariff suspensions could erode the preferential tariff advantages enjoyed by non-EU countries under the generalised scheme of preferences (GSP) or bilateral trade agreements.

Recommended Actions

All interested stakeholders are invited to give feedback via the European Commission’s Have Your Say platform until 8 October 2026. Stakeholders wishing to respond must be registered. Those who are not will first need to create an EU login account, then register their organisation on the EU Transparency register.

Background

The ATSQ scheme allows for import tariffs to be reduced or suspended for a set quantity of imports, taking into account the needs of the market and ensuring that these imports do not undermine the development of EU production. The targeted products are generally reviewed on an annual basis.

ATSQs have been operating on the same principles since 1971. The most recent reform was in 2011, and the most recent evaluation was in 2013. As set out in the 2011 Communication concerning autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas, the core objectives of the ATSQ scheme are to:

• stimulate economic activity within the EU
• improve the competitive capacity of businesses
• in particular, enable businesses to maintain and create employment and modernise their structures.

Resources

Sources