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| Trade Policy & Macro

EU proposes 139% rise in minimum cigarette excise and first bloc-wide tax on vapes and nicotine pouches

The European Commission has proposed raising the EU minimum excise duty on cigarettes by 139% and introducing the first EU-wide minimum tax rate on e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches. The revision of the Tobacco Tax Directive would also extend tobacco traceability to raw materials. The file is still under negotiation in the Council and requires the agreement of member states.

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Eleanor Hayes
Lead Trade Policy Analyst
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| Agriculture: Crops & Grains

Egyptian grape exports reach about 180,000 tonnes, fourth among the country's farm exports

Egyptian grape exports have reached roughly 180,000 tonnes, placing the fruit fourth among the country's largest agricultural exports, according to an official Agricultural Quarantine report cited by Youm7. The report describes inspected and cleared volume rather than trade value, and does not disclose destinations, varieties or a comparison period.

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Martin Keller
Senior Agricultural Commodities Analyst
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| Metals & Mining

US tungsten scrap export controls emerge as model for Europe

New US rules will require sellers to reserve monthly tungsten scrap sales for domestic buyers from August 27 unless regulators grant an exception. Plansee Group CEO Karlheinz Wex is urging Europe to adopt similar measures to retain critical material, expand recycling and reduce dependence on China.

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Thomas Reid
Senior Metals & Mining Analyst
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| Agriculture: Crops & Grains

Ukraine seeks Moldova rail corridor to move grain to Constanța

Ukraine is negotiating a rail route through Moldova to Romania’s Port of Constanța and has requested a 50% freight tariff reduction. The proposed corridor could carry about 4.5 million tonnes annually, but Moldova wants guaranteed volumes in exchange for lower rates.

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Henrik Johansson
Senior Machinery & Automotive Analyst
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| Trade Policy & Macro

EU imports record sugar and poultry volumes from Mercosur in June 2026

EU agri-food imports from Mercosur reached €2.475 billion in June 2026, with record volumes of sugar and salted poultry meat. Preliminary Eurostat data also showed EU agri-food exports to the bloc rising year on year, although the trade flow remained heavily weighted toward Mercosur supplies.

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Eleanor Hayes
Lead Trade Policy Analyst
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