EU to start discussion on dispute with the US over beef exports
A longstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute on export of US beef could be resolved in the following months, after the European Commission (EC) decided to ask the Council for a mandate to discuss with the United States the review of the functioning of an existing quota to import hormone-free beef into the European Union.
A Joint Statement was signed in July by Jean Claude Juncker and Donald Trump, which metions the need to work on outstanding trade issues.
"By requesting this mandate to the Council the Commission is delivering on an engagement taken earlier this year to try to address some concerns raised by the United States on the functioning of the quota in a mutually satisfactory solution that is fully in line with WTO rules. By taking this step, we are also contributing to ease tensions across the Atlantic, in line with the agreement reached by President Juncker in July.
As we send this proposal to the Council I want to reassure European producers that the already existing beef quota under the Memorandum of Understanding will remain at exactly the same level. And I want also to reassure our consumers that the said quota will continue to cover only products complying with Europe's high food safety and health standards, in this case only non-hormone treated beef.", declared Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan.
The Memorandum of Understanding between EU and US specifies that a 45,000 tonnes quota of non-hormone produced beef is open by the EU to qualifying suppliers, which include the United States.
In its proposal to the Council, the Commission suggests allocating to the United States a part of the existing quota that is also available to exporters from other countries.
Also, the Commission suggests to identify WTO-consistent and mutually agreed possible way forward, based on the country-allocation of the existing quota.
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