Greek Feta Producers Scramble For Strategy After U.S. Tariffs Threaten Exports

A cooperative of 1,200 stock breeders in southern Greece had one clear goal for this year: breaking into the U.S. market with their renowned feta cheese. This ambitious expansion plan, however, now hangs in the balance after President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on most imported goods, including dairy products from the European Union.

In 2019, Greece successfully negotiated an exemption for feta from U.S. tariffs, but that reprieve is now a distant memory. Trump’s new tariff regime also includes a 20% reciprocal levy on European goods, including feta, leaving Greek producers with mounting concerns over the future of their exports.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

“We’re uncertain how much of this tariff will be passed on to consumers. It’s a gamble,” said Konstantinos Latsis, the cooperative’s general manager, speaking from inside the dairy’s cold room where 6,000 barrels of feta are aging in brine. The cooperative produces around 5,000 tonnes of barrel-aged feta annually, which it supplies to the Greek market, but it’s eyeing the U.S. as a critical growth opportunity.

Greece, a country with over 6,000 years of feta-making tradition, produced 140,000 tonnes of the iconic cheese last year, valued at €800 million. Approximately 8% of that production was exported to the U.S.—a market where demand for Greek feta has surged, doubling over the past four years. But now, with the looming tariffs, Greek exporters are preparing for a sharp decline in U.S. sales.

“I’m afraid the tariffs will significantly reduce feta exports to the U.S.,” said Christos Apostolopoulos, head of Greece’s dairy industry association. “We’ll have to rethink our strategy and focus on diversifying into other markets.”

Despite the uncertainty, Latsis remains cautiously optimistic. “Even with the tariffs, the U.S. market is too large to ignore,” he said. “We’ll continue to work on our presence there, adapting as we go.”

For now, Greek feta producers face an uphill battle. The question remains: Can the country’s prized cheese find a way through the tariff maze, or will it be forced to shift focus to other markets? The coming months will be pivotal for the future of Greece’s feta exports to the U.S.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

European Leaders Decry U.S. Visa Bans In Digital Sovereignty Clash

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 24, 2025

U.S. Moves to Curb Digital Dissent

European officials on Wednesday sharply criticized the United States for imposing visa bans on five individuals, including Thierry Breton, the former European Union commissioner behind the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Trump administration has accused these figures — among them four notable anti-disinformation campaigners — of compelling U.S. social media platforms to censor American voices.

Strategic Accusations and Broader Implications

Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that the State Department is targeting activists and NGOs he described as advancing “organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints.” Rubio contended that the bans, implemented to avert “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences,” are part of a broader U.S. strategy to counter what he terms extraterritorial censorship practices. The decision, he noted, is a response to actions perceived as weaponizing digital platforms against American interests.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

European Retribution: Defending Digital Autonomy

The European Commission promptly condemned the U.S. measures, emphasizing that freedom of expression remains a fundamental right shared by both Europe and the United States. In its statement, the Commission highlighted the democratic and regulatory legitimacy of the DSA, which mandates that tech giants like Google and Meta enforce stricter controls over illegal online content. European leaders argued that digital regulations, born from a sovereign and democratic process, are critical for maintaining an open and fair single market.

Political Retorts and Future Prospects

French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the visa restrictions as a threat to European digital sovereignty. Labeling the measures as intimidation tactics, Macron underscored that Europe’s digital framework was democratically endorsed by both the European Parliament and the 27 Member States. The ongoing tension underscores the deep ideological divide over digital regulation and the control of large technology platforms.

Global Context of Digital Regulation

As the United States ramps up travel restrictions in response to perceived external political pressures, European and U.K. measures, such as the DSA and the Online Safety Act, spotlight an evolving transatlantic debate on the balance between regulating big tech and preserving open discourse. The implications of these legislative battles extend well beyond borders, signaling a pivotal moment for global digital governance.

Breaking news