MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on US measures on EU farm support under the CAP (in the context of Spanish olives)
12.3.2018 - (2018/2566(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 128(5) of the Rules of Procedure
Ivan Jakovčić, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0137/2018
B8‑0148/2018
European Parliament resolution on US measures on EU farm support under the CAP (in the context of Spanish olives)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the interim decision taken by the US Department of Commerce, which has imposed a tariff on Spanish olives after concluding that the subsidies that the olive producers received in the EU meant that olive products could be imported into the US at below market price,
– having regard to the question to the Commission entitled ‘US attack on EU farm support under the CAP (in the context of Spanish olives)’ (O-000006/2018 – B8‑0007/2018),
– having regard to Rules 128(5) and 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the decision to impose tariffs of varying percentages on olive products exported by Spanish firms is based on the idea that aid to the olive sector granted under the common agricultural policy (CAP) could constitute unfair competition vis-à-vis US producers;
B. whereas the decision calls into question, in an unfair and arbitrary manner, all the EU’s farming support programmes and could potentially affect all recipients of payments under the CAP;
C. whereas the Commission has confirmed on several occasions that the support measures targeted by the countervailing duty (CVD) investigations (basic payments scheme, promotion measures, payments for young farmers) do not disturb price levels on specific agricultural markets or in international trade;
D. whereas the CAP measures under investigation are not product specific and therefore not countervailable under Article 2 of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures;
E. whereas the CAP has been transformed through several reforms in order to adapt most support measures to WTO green box requirements and is now designed to ensure full compliance with WTO agreements;
F. whereas the economic impact on Spanish olive producers, should these tariffs become permanent, is estimated by the sector to be between EUR 350 and 700 million over the next five to ten years;
G. whereas the US also makes significant use of green box subsidies in agriculture;
H. whereas the measures announced risk triggering a spiral of defence investigations by the US and other countries into green box subsidies for agricultural products; whereas that would ultimately damage EU and US producers; whereas this escalation puts long-established and carefully negotiated WTO agreements at risk;
1. Calls on the US authorities to withdraw their interim decision and re-establish a mutually constructive approach in this domain to the mutual benefit of citizens and businesses on both continents;
2. Calls on the Commission to take all necessary steps, both at bilateral level and in the WTO, to defend the CAP support system, which has been approved under the WTO green box procedure;
3. Calls on the Commission to continue assisting the Spanish agricultural sector and the Government of Spain in order to ensure that WTO rules are fully respected by the US authorities in the course of these investigations;
4. Calls on the Commission to join forces with the Spanish authorities and to continue exchanging all relevant information with the US authorities in order to prevent the imposition of any unjustified or protectionist measure;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the European Council and the United States authorities.