Olive oil: The Spanish will "run" promotional programs, risk of Trump tariffs

European olive oil production has rebounded from last year's drought, as reported by the Copa-Cogeca Olive Oil Working Group. However, Spanish producers have concerns about the lack of promotion of olive oil and olives in Europe and highlighted the importance of the Spanish brand. They are prepared to fund their own promotion programs within the EU. The sector aims to modernize and become more competitive, with small farmers seeking increased financial support. The potential impact of President Trump imposing tariffs on EU olive oil exports was also discussed, with Turkey and Tunisia potentially benefiting from such a scenario.

After the problems of last year's drought, European olive oil production has managed to recover this year. This was highlighted in the Copa-Cogeca Olive Oil Working Group, during the meeting held in March in Brussels. Spanish producers, however, expressed their dissatisfaction with the promotion of olive oil and olives in Europe and warned that the Spanish brand (made in Spain) is what really differentiates the product, something that is often absent or remains in the background in the Commission's programs. Given this situation, they made it clear that they will carry out their own promotion programs in the EU. The Spanish also stressed the need to modernize the sector to improve production and achieve more competitive prices, while small farmers warned that traditional olive groves will need greater financial support from the EU to remain viable. For their part, the Italian representatives referred to the problems their country has with Xylella fastidiosa and the abandonment ...