ITC investigates U.S. olive oil competitiveness

   The U.S. International Trade Commission has started an investigation into the global competitiveness of the U.S. commercial olive oil industry.
   The investigation, “Olive Oil: Conditions of Competition between U.S. and Major Foreign Supplier Industries,” was requested by the House Ways and Means Committee in a letter received by the ITC on Sept. 12.
   “The U.S. commercial olive oil industry has grown rapidly over the last decade, employing modern agriculture technologies and research to capture the growing domestic demand for olive oil…. U.S. consumption of olive oil has increased approximately 40 percent in the past 10 years. Although domestic production has increased, the vast majority of U.S. consumption is satisfied by imports,” the committee said in its letter.
   As requested, the ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will provide information and analysis on the major suppliers of olive oil, particularly Spain, Italy, and the North African countries, as well as the United States. The report will cover the period 2008-2012.
   ITC will submit its report to the committee by Aug. 12, 2013.
   The agency will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation at its headquarters in Washington on Dec. 5. Written submissions should be received by the ITC by no later than Feb. 12, 2013. For more details about the investigation, access ITC’s notice of investigation, dated Oct. 1, on its Website.