Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001483/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Yannis Maniatis (S&D)
The recent announcement by the Trump administration imposing 20 % tariffs on all European products signals a clear change in US policy, leading to increased protectionism. The consequences of this trade war, which has just begun with this tariff policy, are expected to be negative for all parties involved. Many sectors, including the agri-food sector, are following developments with great concern and uncertainty. They include the Greek table olive sector, which is in imminent danger.
Table olives are Greece’s leading agricultural export product to the US, with exports reaching EUR 241 million annually, making the US market the main destination for Greek exports, especially for premium quality products of high value. Any disruption to this flow creates problems for the countryside, growers, their organisations and businesses.
Given that the Commission is expected to react to the US announcements soon:
- 1.What measures does the Commission intend to adopt to protect susceptible agri-food products, such as table olives, given that the competitiveness of the sector is under threat from non-EU countries with lower tariffs (10 % in Egypt, Türkiye, Morocco, etc.)?
- 2.How does the Commission intend to proceed at the World Trade Organization (WTO) level with regard to Greek table olives, given that the EU has already successfully challenged the US regarding Spanish ripe olives, justifying the demands of Spanish producers and exporters?
Submitted: 10.4.2025