Von der Leyen: Tariff-free access will be provided for 80% of Armenia's exports to EU

The European Union will allow around 80% of Armenia's exports to enter its market duty-free, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced during a joint statement with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan, Report informs.

Von der Leyen said no country should face pressure over its sovereign choices:

"No country should be pressured for a sovereign choice. This is why the EU is stepping up, with €52 million and proposed tariff-free access for 80% of Armenia's exports to the EU. Armenia can count on us."

She noted that products currently destined mainly for the Russian market could instead be redirected to the EU's single market of 450 million consumers.

According to von der Leyen, trade measures "will cover almost 99% of Armenia's exports of fresh fruit, vegetables and plants to Russia and more than 91% of beverages and spirits."

To ensure fast trade diversification, the European Commission will deploy experts to Armenia by mid-July to work directly with producers and exporters.