European Commission Authorized to Start Negotiations With US on Beef Imports
The Council of the European Union authorized the European Commission to begin trade talks with the U.S. "on high quality beef from animals not treated with certain growth promoting hormones," the council said in a news release. The council would also like to see a review of the "the functioning of the existing quota for imports of hormone-free beef into the EU," it said. That issue was not discussed during a July meeting between President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (see 1807250031), the council said. "Nevertheless, finding a mutually beneficial solution to our [long-standing] dispute over beef would be a major step forward in improving our trade cooperation."
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The negotiations follow a long-standing dispute over the EU ban on beef treated with hormones. While that ban remains, the EU and U.S. agreed to a tariff rate quota, allowing for imports of 45,000 tons of hormone-free beef from the U.S. "The aim of the negotiations is to find a mutually satisfactory solution in line with" World Trade Organization rules, the council said. "The Commission is not authorised to negotiate an increase in the existing TRQ but can discuss a country-specific allocation of the overall quota. Negotiations with other supplying countries may be needed to ensure that any agreed country-specific allocation with the US respects their existing rights."