On July 12, 2025, the administration of President Donald Trump announced the imposition of a 30% tariff on all imports from the European Union, effective August 1. The decision was justified by the U.S. trade deficit with the EU and the need for “fair and reciprocal terms” in bilateral trade.
The announcement followed a three-month transitional period during which a temporary 10% tariff was in place to facilitate negotiations. However, the failure to reach an agreement led to the full implementation of the 30% tariff, now directly impacting a range of European export products — including processed marble and granite.
This new tariff policy is expected to disrupt trade flows and mainly affect EU member states with strong export activity to the U.S. market.
In this context, it is worth examining how exports of processed marble and granite from EU countries to the United States are being affected — beginning with processed marble exports.
Italy’s Dominance in U.S.-Bound Marble Exports
Among EU member states, Italy holds a clear lead in processed marble exports to the United States. In 2024, Italian exports reached €423 million, accounting for 89.4% of the EU’s total export value in this sector. Italy also leads in volume, exporting over 102,000 tons — or 81.2% of the EU total.
The U.S. is the single most important global market for Italian processed marble. In 2024, the United States absorbed 39.23% of Italy’s total export value in marble and 22.43% of its exported quantity.
Given these figures, Italy is expected to be more heavily affected than any other EU country by the 30% tariff imposition.
High Export Values and Strong U.S. Market Dependence
Following Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal also report notable processed marble exports to the United States.
In 2024, Greece exported marble products worth €26.6 million to the U.S., representing 14.68% of its total export value. This marks the second-highest performance among EU member states and reflects a particularly close export relationship with the U.S. market.
Spain follows with exports totaling €12.97 million, corresponding to 10.11% of its overall exports. While its market dependence is lower than Greece’s, Spain maintains a consistent presence in the U.S., mainly through competitively priced, high-quality products.
Portugal ranks third among countries combining relatively high export value and U.S. market dependence, with exports amounting to €5.76 million and a share of 9.47%.
Although countries such as France and Belgium exhibit relatively high percentage dependence on the U.S. market (9–12%), their absolute export values are significantly lower. As a result, their economic losses in absolute terms are expected to be more limited.
Conclusion
The imposition of the new 30% tariff by the United States is expected to trigger major shifts in processed marble exports from the European Union, with the greatest impact on countries with a strong presence in the American market. Italy, dominating both in value and volume, stands at the epicenter of the impact. However, countries such as Greece, Spain, and Portugal will also face significant challenges, as the U.S. constitutes a strategic export destination for them.
If the U.S. continues to pursue this trade policy direction, European companies in the sector may be forced to reassess their strategies — either by adjusting their pricing or by seeking alternative markets.
