AHI Applauds Passage of Gibson-Grimm Amendment to Farm Bill

Amendment would have eliminated tax on olive oil imports

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) applauds passage of a House amendment sponsored by U.S. Congressmen Chris Gibson (R-NY) and Michael Grimm (R-NY) that would have struck down a provision in the Farm Bill harmful to olive oil imports had the Farm Bill passed yesterday. The Gibson-Grimm Amendment passed 343 to 81 and 1 voting present. The Farm Bill eventually was defeated.

“Although the Farm Bill failed, we want to thank Representatives Gibson and Grimm for their sponsorship of the amendment, which would have protected olive oil imports from expensive and ineffective regulations had the Farm Bill passed,” said AHI President Nick Larigakis, who noted AHI reached out to several congressional offices to raise awareness of the amendment.  “We also appreciate the support from the Hellenic Caucus and the bipartisan backing from House members who voted for the amendment.”

The Gibson-Grimm amendment would have struck down Section 10010 of the Farm Bill which would have imposed a marketing order to olive oil imports. Greece is the third largest olive oil producing country in the world, added Larigakis.

“The marketing order would have been a trade barrier.  It would have raised the price of olive oil for consumers, and it would have been harmful to small businesses,” Larigakis said. “We were also certainly concerned about the ramifications Section 10010 of the Farm Bill would have had on future trade negotiations between the United States and the European Union. We believe it would have disrupted those negotiations.”

AHI supports the efforts of the Obama Administration to negotiate and conclude the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the United States and the European Union.  The TTIP is comprehensive agreement which would enable goods and services to flow freely between the United States and the European Union, harmonize quality and other standards and facilitate cross border investment. TTIP is essential to the improvement of the economies of Greece and Cyprus.  As member states of the European Union, Greece and Cyprus will be part of this trading and investment and realize the commercial and economic benefits which will flow from the TTIP.

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community. 

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For additional information, please contact Georgea Polizos at (202) 785-8430 or at [email protected]. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our Web site at https://www.ahiworld.org.