site.btaImports from US Generate 4% of Bulgaria's Revenues from Tariffs

Bulgaria's revenues from customs duties on the import of goods from the United States were about BGN 13 million annually in 2023 and 2024, approximately accounting for 4% of Bulgaria's total revenues from tariffs. Bulgaria also collected between BGN 145 million and 149 million annually in VAT on imports from the US, according to Customs Agency data provided to BTA after an official enquiry.

To better assess the weight of these ratios and volumes, it should be noted that Bulgaria's foreign trade is overwhelmingly dominated by exchange with other EU member states. The EU applies no tariffs internally, that is, there are no customs duties to be paid when goods are transported from one EU country to another.

Over the last few years, the US has held a relatively small yet steady share in Bulgaria's foreign trade, in the order of 2.5% of exports from Bulgaria and 1.2% of imports to Bulgaria, show data from the Ministry of Economy and Industry (MEI).

Since Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, it has adhered entirely to the EU's common trade policy on imports from third countries. This applies to the Common Customs Tariff and the bloc's preferential trade agreements as well as its anti-dumping and protective measures.

Passenger cars and other motor vehicles are among the main goods imported from the US to Bulgaria, according to MEI data. Such goods carry a customs duty of 10%, as set in TARIC, the integrated Tariff of the European Union.

In addition to motor vehicles, US imports to Bulgaria include: petroleum gas and other gaseous carbohydrates; aerial vehicles; petroleum coke, petroleum asphalt and other petroleum by-products; integrated circuits and electronic micro-components; transmission devices for radiotelephony, radiotelegraphy and radio broadcasting; videophones; automated information processing machines; and copper by-products and fragments. All these import items carry zero customs duty.

On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced a new round of global tariffs.