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Olive oil tariff blow
3 Sep 2004
The olive oil industry is critical of the Federal Government's rejection of a call for tariffs to protect Australian producers from subsidised European Union imports. Last week, the Trade Measures Review Office upheld an Australian Customs Service decision to end an inquiry into the industry's tariff request. ACS concluded that EU subsidies did not provide any export benefit to olive oil sent to Australia. It also said that although there was some evidence of dumping it caused little or no harm to the local industry.
Inglewood Olive Processors lodged an appeal over the initial decision, saying it should have been referred to the Customs Minister. Cobram Estate's Craig Dugan said EU producers are getting a $2 a bottle free kick because of the subsidies they receive, which makes it extremely difficult for local producers to compete. Even more galling is that Australian producers have to pay an import duty when they export into the EU. Mr Dugan said other olive-producing countries, including Peru, Argentina and Israel, all use tariffs to protect their domestic industries.
Weekly Times, 1/9/04, page 6.
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