Oregon winemakers could soon get relief from rising costs as wine cork appears poised for exemption from the Trump administration's 15% tariffs on European Union products.

Members of the Natural Cork Council in Salem lobbied U.S. trade officials for a tariff exemption and believe they are close to securing the relief. Cork is expected to join a small list of items exempt from the EU tariffs.

"It's not grown in the United States," said Patrick Spencer, executive director of the Natural Cork Council. "It's critical to the wine industry, which is a $140 billion-a-year 'Made in America' industry."

Cork comes almost entirely from trees in Europe, primarily Portugal, making it a natural resource that cannot be sourced domestically.

President Trump said in his executive order Friday that tari

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