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<pre>Hi Guido,

Thank you for posting the article about the California olive industry
and how much unsold inventory they now have in stock. Thank you also
for reminding us that subsidies come in many forms for the European
producers.

You may be aware Guido that Australia and the US have just signed a
Free-Trade Agreement that still needs to be ratified by their
respective governments. Very handy for President Bush and Prime
Minister John Howard. The implications for the olive industry in
Australia are still being digested but it's important to note that
new regulations on food-importing will most likely make olive oil
exports to the US more difficult.

Can some of our Argentinian and South African colleagues let us (poor
Australians) know how their governments are assisting them to become
more competitive with a subsidised Europe? That would be very helpful
is setting priorities for Australian government assistance.

For example, does the government assist in establishing and enforcing
food purity regulations for imported foods? Do you have a national
body collecting detailed industry statistics on farm size, production
of olives, processing and distribution? Is there a national marketing
strategy that promotes and markets food products from your country?

I'll be listening with interest.

Regards,
Lambros Karavis
</pre>
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