The imposition of tariffs by the US president, Donald Trump, greatly affects the perfume and cosmetics sector in Catalonia, a region where this sector has a considerable weight in exports to the US country. According to data from ACCIÓ, the agency for the competitiveness of the Catalan company, more than 3,000 Catalan companies regularly export to the USA, this country being the main destination outside of Europe for products such as perfumery and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and machinery, as explained in El Món.
In 2024, Catalan exports to the United States reached 4,351 million euros, representing 4.3% of the total international sales of the territory. Within this volume, perfumery and cosmetic products occupy a prominent place, which underlines the importance of the US market for this sector in Catalonia. One of the sectors most affected by these measures may be perfumery and cosmetics. Last year alone, Catalan exports of perfumes and cosmetics to the United States reached 662 million euros, 50% more than in 2023.
The imposition of 25% tariffs by the Trump administration poses a significant and relevant challenge for Catalan companies in the cosmetic sector.
The economic impact of these tariffs could translate into a reduction of the Catalan GDP of up to 0.5%, depending on the magnitude of the taxes. Faced with this situation, the Catalan Government has estimated that more than 3,000 companies will be affected, with a possible negative impact of 0.2% on the GDP of Catalonia. In addition, the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has announced the reinforcement of the Catalan delegations abroad to face the effects of the trade war and open new markets to the affected companies.