At the European Food Forum’s Navigating US Tariffs: Impact on European Food and Drink Trade, Economy and Future Relations, Edouard Coppieters, Senior Policy Adviser, AmCham EU, spoke about the new reality in which US agri-food companies operate. Taking place on Thursday, 9 April, he outlined the continued growth of EU-US agri-trade and the need for the EU to continue to diversify its trade partners, welcoming the recent announcement of deals with Australia and India. Alongside Brando Benifei, MEP (IT, S&D), he noted that tackling the uncertainty created by tariffs is essential and that to this end, the Framework Agreement between the EU and US is a needed stable basis. Although tariffs bring uncertainty, the EU must not lose sight of the predictability steps it can take to ensure it remains competitive and attractive to potential new trading partners.

The EU’s agri-food regulatory framework is fragmented and lacks predictability. The Food and Feed Safety Omnibus is a chance to address these shortcomings by reducing delays, improving consistency and easing compliance burdens that limit market access. 

Uncertainty discourages investment and slows the uptake of new solutions. A more proportionate approach can improve legal certainty and support more consistent implementation across Member States. At the same time, maintaining a science-based, risk-based approach to trade measures is necessary to safeguard food security and avoid supply disruptions. 

At the Alimentaria Conference in Barcelona, Edouard Coppieters, Senior Policy Adviser, AmCham EU, spoke about placing competitiveness at the centre of the European agri-food ecosystem. Taking place on Tuesday, 24 March, he outlined the role of simplification and Better Regulation principles in ensuring a stable agri-food supply chain and supporting the sector’s competitiveness. He noted that the sector operates within an international trade environment and that stakeholders across the value chain face challenges in adapting to the current legislative framework. He emphasised the need to simplify operations within the Single Market and ensure that legislation is fit for purpose rather than a box-ticking exercise. Aurélie Dufour, Europe Sustainability Engagement and Regulation Lead, Yum! Brands and Dirk Jacobs, Director-General, FoodDrinkEurope also joined the panel.

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) implementation must be workable, risk-based and enforceable in practice. Current uncertainty, particularly around Article 7 (‘deemed operators’), the definition of the true EU ‘first operator’ and the boundary between verification and liability, is driving market behaviour that cascades compliance burdens downstream, undermining simplification and increasing the risk of disruption.

At the same time, traceability and tool capacity remain the weakest links. Unresolved scenarios and uncertainty about system capacity at scale risk turning compliance into ‘tick-box’ documentation rather than effective deforestation risk mitigation.

On Tuesday, 9 December, AmCham EU hosted a discussion on the Food and Feed Omnibus and its role in simplifying Europe’s agri-food legislation. The conversation explored how a more coherent, innovation-friendly framework can reduce complexity and ease the administrative burden across the value chain. The discussion also underlined the importance of aligning regulation with scientific and technological progress, while reinforcing Europe’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Effective collaboration between policymakers and industry remains essential to ensure the Omnibus delivers practical improvements for operators throughout the agri-food sector.

During the panel, participants heard from Tyler Babcock, Senior Agricultural Attaché, US Mission to the European Union; Dr Eugene Kevin Foley-Friel, Agriculture Attaché, Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union and Astrid Sofie Vestergaard Nielsen, Food Attaché, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the European Union. The discussion was moderated by David Mills (Mondelēz International), Chair, Communications Group; Member of the Board of Directors and Vice-Chair, Agriculture & Food Committee, AmCham EU.