In short
- The United States is the leading destination for Spanish exports outside Europe: €16.716 billion in 2025, 8% less than in 2024, according to Spain's Secretary of State for Trade.
- Since 24 July 2026, Section 301 tops up the tariff on most EU goods to 10% in total (MFN included); goods under Section 232 follow their own regime. The situation changes often.
- The importer of record is accountable to CBP; for ocean shipments the ISF must be filed before loading at origin.
- Food and cosmetics require FDA registration; food shipments also need Prior Notice. 2026 is a renewal year for food facility registration.
- Each state adds its own rules, and product liability weighs more than in Europe: budget for it before you sell.
Why export to the United States: the data
The United States is the largest market for Spanish exports outside Europe. According to the monthly foreign trade report of Spain's Secretary of State for Trade (DataComex data, provisional), Spain sold €16.716 billion there in 2025, 4.3% of its total exports and 8% less than in 2024 due to tariffs. That puts it ahead of Morocco (€12.330 billion) and China (€7.972 billion). Between January and July 2026, sales reached €10.483 billion, 1.8% more than a year earlier.
It is a huge market with high purchasing power and openness to new suppliers that meet deadlines and standards. But it is not one country, it is fifty markets with different rules, distances and buyers. An SME does not “enter the United States”: it enters a region, a sector and a channel.
Sectors with opportunities for Spanish products
According to UN Comtrade (data reported by Spain for 2024), Spanish exports to the United States are more diversified than to other distant markets:
| Tariff chapter | Share of total | What it means for an SME |
|---|---|---|
| 84 · Machinery and mechanical appliances | 14.1% | Capital goods with local technical service |
| 85 · Electrical equipment | 8.5% | Safety certification recognised in the US |
| 15 · Fats and oils (olive oil) | 7.1% | Food: FDA rules and English labelling |
| 30 · Pharmaceutical products | 6.2% | Highly regulated; own tariff regime |
| 33 · Perfumery and cosmetics | 4.7% | FDA facility registration and product listing |
| 38 · Miscellaneous chemical products | 3.6% | Safety data sheets and chemical regulations |
| 73 · Iron or steel articles | 3.5% | Check whether your product falls under Section 232 |
| 69 and 68 · Ceramics and natural stone | 3.4% and 2.4% | Construction and design; regional distribution |
These chapters draw the map, but they do not tell you whether your product fits. Match your HS code with import and price data: the market analysis in Exporta.ai gives you a country verdict and a maximum reference EXW price.
US tariffs in 2026 on Spanish and EU products
This is the question we hear most, and the one that changes most often. Summary as of 8 October 2026, based on the ICEX tariff tracker, USTR and the European Commission:
| Measure | Status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| IEEPA (“reciprocal”) tariffs | Struck down by the Supreme Court on 20 February 2026; refunds processed through the CAPE tool since 20 April 2026 | If you were importer of record (DDP sales), ask your broker whether you can recover what you paid |
| Section 122 (temporary 10%) | Applied from 24 February 2026 for the legal maximum of 150 days; expired on 24 July | No longer applies |
| Section 301 (forced labour) | In force since 24 July 2026. For the EU: if the MFN tariff is below 10%, the total (MFN + 301) is 10%; if it is 10% or more, there is no surcharge. Annex exemptions apply and it is being challenged at the Court of International Trade | The general benchmark for most Spanish products |
| Section 232 (sector tariffs) | Steel, aluminium, copper and derivatives, cars, pharmaceuticals and other sectors, with specific EU terms in some cases | Goods under 232 do not pay Section 301; check your product |
| Section 301 (excess capacity) | Investigation opened on 11 March 2026 into 16 economies, including the EU; no measures published as of this date | Risk of new tariffs in the coming months |
On the EU side, the European Commission states that the EU-US deal sets a 15% ceiling with no stacking of tariffs, and that the EU has applied its commitments since 1 July 2026. The practical rule: find your product's exact line in the US tariff schedule (HTSUS), confirm with your customs broker which measures apply and recheck before every quote. Follow updates in the ICEX tariff tracker.
Requirements for exporting to the United States: customs, FDA and standards
CBP, customs broker and importer of record
- The importer of record is responsible to CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) for the accuracy of the entry and payment of duties, even when using a CBP-licensed customs broker.
- Clearance requires a customs bond, single-transaction or continuous.
- For ocean shipments, the ISF (Importer Security Filing or “10+2”) must be filed no later than 24 hours before the goods are loaded at the port of origin; late or incomplete filings are penalised.
- Goods must show the country of origin in English (“Made in Spain”), legibly and permanently.
- The US has eliminated the de minimis exemption for low-value shipments: small parcels also pay duties.
FDA: food and cosmetics
If you manufacture, pack or hold food for the United States, your facility must be registered with the FDA, with a US agent. Registration is renewed every two years, between 1 October and 31 December of even-numbered years: the 2026 window is open now. Each shipment also requires Prior Notice to the FDA, and your importer must verify its foreign suppliers. For cosmetics, MoCRA requires facility registration and product listing.
State rules and product liability
On top of federal rules, each state can add requirements: warnings such as California's Proposition 65, packaging rules or sales tax if you sell directly. Product liability is governed by state law and claims can be costly: take out insurance with US coverage and agree with your distributor who is responsible for what. For electrical equipment, customers usually ask for certification by a recognised testing laboratory (NRTL).
Alcoholic beverages: the three-tier system
Wine, beer and spirits go through importer, distributor and retailer, with the importer's TTB permit, an approved COLA for each label and state-specific rules. We cover it in our guide to exporting wine.
Routes into the US market
| Channel | How it works | When it fits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Importer-distributor | Buys, acts as importer of record and resells | First entry for many SMEs | Real geographic coverage and limited exclusivity |
| Sales representative (rep) | Commission-based sales agency by territory; the customer buys directly | Industrial goods and components | Who acts as importer and who provides service |
| Regional industrial distributor | Stock and technical sales across several states | Spare parts, consumables, standard equipment | Coordination between regions |
| Direct sales to manufacturers | Supply to OEMs after qualification | Components and technical materials | Long lead times and quality requirements |
| Retail and chains | Listing with logistics, EDI and labelling requirements | Consumer goods with volume | Chargebacks for non-compliance |
| Own subsidiary | US company that imports and sells | When volume justifies it | Fixed cost, state and federal taxes |
Review the pros and cons of each model in our step-by-step export guide. For an industrial SME, the most common setup is a distributor or rep per region and, as volume grows, a small own structure.
How to find distributors in the United States
Key trade fairs
Pick the fair for your sector, not the biggest one. Examples: IMTS (Chicago, biennial in even years; the latest edition ran from 14 to 19 September 2026) for machine tools; PACK EXPO International (Chicago, biennial; edition from 18 to 21 October 2026) for packaging and processing; and the Summer Fancy Food Show (New York, annual, organised by the Specialty Food Association) for specialty food. Confirm dates with the organiser and build your agenda in advance: see winning customers at international trade fairs.
Institutions, associations and data
- Economic and Commercial Offices of Spain: the ICEX network has offices in Washington, New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles, and the Spanish government has approved its expansion. They offer partner searches and meeting agendas for a fee.
- US sector associations, such as those organising the fairs above: their member directories are a good starting list.
- Spain-US Chamber of Commerce and Spanish chambers in the US: contacts and references from established companies.
- Import data: US ocean cargo manifests are public and show who imports products like yours.
Direct prospecting
In the United States, direct outreach via LinkedIn and email is widely accepted if it is short, specific and relevant. Segment by state, sector and size, find the decision-maker and suggest a short call. The method is in how to find international distributors, and we run it in our B2B prospecting campaigns.
Business culture: selling to US companies
Generalising is risky in such a diverse country, but some guidelines tend to work. Buyers value clarity and speed: a proposal that explains in a few lines what problem you solve, with data, lead times and price, gets further than a long corporate presentation.
- Reply fast: a day of silence can read as lack of interest or capacity.
- Show reliability: references, certifications, supply capacity and local stock or service.
- Take contracts seriously: they are detailed and negotiated by lawyers; review exclusivity, warranties and liability.
- Adapt your materials: native English, imperial units where relevant and prices in dollars.
Common mistakes when exporting to the United States
- Treating the US as one market. Start with a region or sector you can actually serve.
- Quoting with an outdated tariff. Recheck the tariff line for every offer.
- Letting your FDA registration lapse. If you do not renew by 31 December 2026, it expires.
- Forgetting the ISF or origin marking. Both cause avoidable penalties or holds.
- Not budgeting for product liability. Insurance and contract terms before the first shipment.
- Granting nationwide exclusivity. One distributor rarely covers the whole country well.
- Copying your Spanish website and catalogue. Without native English and technical data in US formats, you lose credibility.
Support for exporting to the United States
Besides ICEX Next and the tailored services of the Economic and Commercial Offices, in 2025 the Spanish government approved a tariff response plan (Royal Decree-Law 4/2025) with financing, CESCE export credit insurance and an ICEX programme for the companies most exposed to the US. Some instruments have already expired, so check what is still open. In Catalonia you can combine them with ACCIÓ vouchers. There is an overview in our guide to internationalisation grants, and we handle applications through our grants service.
If you are also interested in markets further south, compare with our guide to exporting to Mexico.
Frequently asked questions
What tariff does a Spanish product pay in the United States in 2026?
As of 8 October 2026, most EU goods pay, under Section 301, a total of 10% if their MFN tariff is below that level, and only the MFN rate if it is 10% or higher. Steel, aluminium, copper, cars and other sectors follow their own Section 232 regime. Exemptions apply and the situation changes often: confirm your tariff line with a customs broker.
Do I need FDA registration to export to the United States?
If you manufacture, pack or hold food for the US, yes: your facility must be registered with the FDA, with a US agent, and renewed between October and December of even-numbered years, such as 2026. Every food shipment also needs Prior Notice. For cosmetics, MoCRA requires facility registration and product listing.
Who pays the duties when exporting to the United States?
The importer of record pays them, as the party declaring the goods to CBP, usually through a customs broker and with a customs bond. If you sell EXW, FCA or DAP, your customer takes that role. If you sell DDP, you do, with the risk that the tariff changes between your quote and delivery.
How can I find distributors in the United States?
Combine sector fairs such as IMTS, PACK EXPO or the Summer Fancy Food Show; Spain's Economic and Commercial Offices; sector association directories; public import data; and direct prospecting via LinkedIn and email, segmented by state. Exporta.ai helps you find importers and distributors with verified contact details for the decision-maker.
Can I recover the IEEPA tariffs I paid?
If you acted as importer of record, for example on DDP sales, and paid IEEPA tariffs between 2025 and February 2026, you may be able to. After the Supreme Court ruling of 20 February 2026, CBP has processed refunds through the CAPE tool since 20 April 2026, according to ICEX. Check your case with your customs broker.
