Mexico imposes duty on European olive oil

Mexico has imposed a compensatory duty on European olive oil imports, saying subsidies paid to Mediterranean growers hurt Mexico's only producer. The new tax, which begins on Tuesday, will levy between 40 US cents and 73 US cents per kilogram and include all grades of virgin and blended olive oil. Mexico already charges a 10 percent to 20 percent tariff on olive oil from Europe.
Mexico's only olive oil producer, Fortuny, argues that subsidised imports from Spain and Italy hurt its business and represent unfair competition. Olives were planted in Mexico by Spanish missionaries as early as 1560, but they never assumed the importance in national cuisine held by native products like the chili.