U.S. Seeks Egg Imports from Europe as Prices Soar

The Trump administration has turned to European nations for egg imports as American consumers grapple with skyrocketing prices.

Wholesale egg prices surged by an astonishing 59% year-over-year in February, straining American households.

The request from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) comes amid ongoing trade tensions, including Trump’s tariffs on EU steel and aluminum and his threat to impose 200% levies on European alcoholic beverages, Daily Express reported.

Trump had promised to slash egg prices on his first day in office, but instead, costs have soared.

Wholesale egg prices surged by an astonishing 59% year-over-year in February, straining American households. The sharp increase has been largely attributed to a widespread bird flu outbreak.

In February, the USDA contacted European egg producers, inquiring about availability and willingness to export to the US, according to Reuters. In a follow-up letter this month to the Danish Egg Association, the USDA requested an estimate of how many eggs Denmark could supply.

However, the Danish Egg Association warned that Europe itself is facing an egg shortage due to bird flu outbreaks and rising consumption.

The association also highlighted significant regulatory barriers to exporting eggs to the US, particularly concerning hygiene standards.

Last month, US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a $1 billion plan to mitigate the crisis by seeking imported eggs. In February, Turkey began exporting approximately 15,000 metric tons of eggs to the US.