Moldovan authorities,entrepreneurs assess impact of new U.S. tariffs

A number of 40 Moldovan exporters operating on the United States market today participated in a meeting organized at the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitization /MDED/. The participants in the event analyzed the impact of the new U.S. tariffs, applied worldwide, including on Moldovan-origin products.

At the discussions, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Digitization Doina Nistor said that the authorities and the business environment were analyzing the impact of the new U.S. tariffs and would come up with concrete proposals for each exported product.

“For many of the companies present today, the U.S. market has been a major expansion area, especially in 2024, when our exports grew, reaching 90 million dollars. We want to turn this challenge into an opportunity. The authorities and the business environment are analyzing the impact of the new U.S. tariffs and we will come up with concrete proposals for each exported product,” said Doina Nistor.

At the same time, MDED informed that discussions with European partners had been initiated, where 3 out of 4 products manufactured in Moldova were exported, and experts are analyzing alternative markets for the products hit by the new tariffs.

For their part, companies’ representatives highlighted the challenges faced as a result of the US authorities' decision and expressed concerns about the competitiveness of Moldovan products on this market.

Mircea Manoli, director of the Speranța Con Food Industry Processing Association, says the US market was a stable one, ensuring continuous deliveries, and Moldovan exporters promoted the country under their own brand.

“Partially, the US market will absorb the shock of the new prices, as the USA does not have its own production of concentrated drinks in the juice sector. An alternative market for us would be, first of all, the one of the European Union and we can also consider the Asian market,” says Mircea Manoli.

Fashion designer Iulia Allert, creator of a brand that has become a champion in online sales in the U.S., UK and EU in recent years, believes that, at this moment, it is complicated to give up the USA, which has a very developed e-commerce market and her brand is already well-known among her clients. “As late as today,  we begin  to understand what the real situation is and how the new tariffs, which have come into effect, are enforced. On the next few days, we will understand how the new rules work and what impact they have on our business,” says Iulia Allert.

“This meeting is crucial for winemakers. Because, if this situation had occurred at the beginning of 2024, it would have been completely something else. But now, after the success we had on the US market last year, it is very difficult to immediately estimate the impact we will feel. We believe we need to expand even more into alternative markets – for example, the European market, to ensure that our products stay competitive,” said Stefan Iamandi, director of the National Office of Vine and Wine.

The ministry also invited the IT and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) services sector to analyze the potential impact, for which the US market is an important client, especially in the logistics and transportation sector.

“The tariffs do not directly affect the services sector of Moldova. We might see a decrease in the revenues of companies serving the U.S. market in 2025, as their clients are financially affected directly by the imposed tariffs, regardless of their country of origin. Over 600 companies declare the U.S. as an export market,” says Marina Bzovîi, executive director of the Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP).

The companies emphasized the importance of maintaining and strengthening Moldova's position in global value chains, especially in the automotive and textile sectors, where a potential reduction in European demand for the American market could trigger additional indirect losses for Moldovan exporters.

Moldova's exports to the U.S. in 2024 accounted for 2.5% of the total, reaching 90 million dollars, while imports represented 1.5%, which means 135 million USD of the overall imports. The country mainly exports the following product categories: dessert wines, which accounted for 48% of total exports to the US in 2024; fruit juices, especially apple juice, where Moldova held a significant segment (14%); plastic devices and transport items (9%), alcohol (5%), pastry products (2%) and textile garments (3%).

The new tariffs applied by the United States officially came into effect today, April 9, 2025.