Black olive exporters from Spain are asking the European Union to respond to Trump's tariffs.

On Wednesday, a representative of the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued a decision allowing the European Union to impose countermeasures worth up to $13.64 million per year in the dispute with the United States regarding ripe olives. This decision gives the EU the authority to retaliate if Washington imposes additional tariffs. Representatives of the Trump Administration threatened Spain with higher tariffs due to its refusal to increase military spending, stating that they do not intend to lift the sanctions meant to protect American growers. Spain's share of the American market for black olives has dramatically decreased, from 49% in 2017 to 19% in 2024, following the imposition of tariffs of over 30% by Trump. In August, the U.S. applied a new 15% tariff on EU goods, including olives. The spokesperson for the European Commission, Olof Gill, stated that Brussels is analyzing the WTO decision and evaluating the next steps, emphasizing that the situation for Spanish olive producers is deteriorating, despite the favorable WTO ruling.