Murcia sets its sights on the UK, Canada and Mexico in the wake of Trump tariffs
The Region of Murcia is turning to Europe and other emerging markets to export goods usually destined for the US
With US tariffs threatening to impact a significant chunk of Murcia’s exports, the regional government is getting ahead of the curve by commissioning what’s known as the ‘Tariff Committee.’ As fears grow that businesses will suffer severe losses thanks to Trump’s aggressive policies, this group of experts has pinpointed a number of promising alternative markets across China, Mexico, East Africa and Europe.
“This report will help exporters establish a roadmap and reduce their dependence on a single market, opening up new opportunities in areas with high potential and less exposure to political and commercial risk,” explained Minister Marisa López Aragón.
The analysis focused on 18 key products, which make up almost 75% of the Region of Murcia’s exports to the US, and the findings are encouraging. While the United States is the top global importer for 15 of these products, other countries are eager for the same goods.
Take Murcian peppers, for example. The US is currently the main import market for this vegetable, but it’s also in demand in China, Thailand and Mexico. Wine from the Region is another standout, with strong interest from Germany, the UK and Canada. Even sweets and other vegetables are finding eager buyers in France and the UK.
Casting the net even further, the Ministry of Business is planning a direct multi-sector trade mission to Kenya and Uganda from May 12 to 18, aiming to tap into the growing East African market. The Region already has a foothold: in 2024, it was Spain’s fifth-biggest exporter to Uganda and sixth to Kenya, with exports of nearly €3 million.
Products gaining traction there include chemicals, food ingredients and additives, bakery machinery and even live plants.
In other news: More than 30% of Murcia hospitality workers are foreign
Image: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons
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