The WTO once again agrees with Europe in its dispute with the US over the excessive tariffs on Spanish black olives

The World Consumer Organization (WTO) has once again agreed with the European Commission in its dispute with the United States over Spanish black olives. In a ruling, the WTO points out that the United States has not applied the recommendations indicated by the organization's initial panel, and that the measures against Spanish black olives are incompatible with the rules that govern trade.

The dispute dates back to 2018, when the United States began to apply anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on imports of this food, which affected the sector's exports.

In January 2023, the US International Trade Administration reduced but only partially its tariffs on Spanish black olives, which for practical purposes fell from the previous 35% to 31%, something that the EU considers insufficient.

In August 2018, the United States imposed tariffs of 35% on the import of black olives from Spain following a complaint from the California producing sector.. These complaints accused the Spanish black olive industry of selling at low cost and also considered that the CAP aid received by the sector represented 'dumping' for the American market.

Since then, Spanish exports of black olives have fallen by 68% in volume, which is why the Spanish sector has lost competitiveness, as the Spanish Agro-Food Cooperatives have repeatedly denounced.

Now, the Spanish Government has welcomed this WTO decision as one more step towards resolving these “unfair tariffs” imposed by Washington against Spanish black olives.