30/01/2019 (Agence Europe) – The United States Trade Representative (USTR), Robert Lighthizer, reacted on Tuesday 29 January to the EU's request for WTO consultations challenging Washington's imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Spanish olives (see EUROPE 12182). In a statement, Mr Lighthizer declared, “We believe that the EU's case is without merit, and we intend to fight it very aggressively.” US duties target CAP support schemes in the WTO's 'green box', which are therefore allowed without limits, as they do not distort trade, or only marginally. On the other side of the Atlantic, however, an investigation reports “significant job losses and a decline in the profitability of the American industry”. "It would be unfortunate if the WTO were to encourage the kind of unfair and market-distorting trade”, emphasised Mr Lighthizer. (HD)