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Experts have warned if Washington’s investigation into imported Spanish olives results in anti-dumping duties to counter subsidies from the EU’s CAP the same argument could be used against other products.

French wine and olive oil exports to the US could face similar trade taxes if the US Department of Commerce believes Spanish olives should face anti-dumping duties.

CAP is Brussels’ €58billion-per-year system of subsidies paid to EU farmers to ensure a guaranteed minimum level of production, so Europeans have enough food to eat and creates a fair standard of living for citizens dependent on agriculture.

However, the EU cannot use all of its agricultural products, so it seems them cheaply across the word, undercutting local farmers who cannot compete with the heavily subsidised imports.

Californian olive farmers have argued imports from their Spanish counterparts are gifted an unfair advantage because of the EU’s farming subsidies.