Greek canned peach producers in despair after Trump's new tariffs

For the world's biggest exporter of canned peaches, the reality of an additional 25% tariff leaves a bitter taste.

Greece sends about one fifth of its quarter of a million tonnes annual production to the U.S.

The peaches were already subject to an import levy of 18 percent.

Now it's 43%, thanks to new WTO-authorized countermeasures - U.S. retaliation for EU Airbus subsidies

(SOUNDBITE) (English) GREEK CANNERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT KOSTAS APOSTOLOU SAYING:

"Why they punish us? We have nothing to do with these aircrafts."

Kostas Apostolou is president of the Greek Canners Association.

He speaks for some ten thousand people who depend on peach production and cultivation.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) GREEK CANNERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT KOSTAS APOSTOLOU SAYING:

"Suddenly there was this war, a war between Europe and the United States about what? About the aircrafts. We could never imagine that this could affect our poor job here in this small area in central Macedonia, near Salonika we are."

Greek producers say many U.S. customers are either cancelling orders or refusing to pay for tariff increases.

That adds up to about $50 million in lost income.

A tragedy for Greece's poorest regions, already struggling with 20% unemployment.