Farm Futures logo

EU raises the 'steaks' on trade

U.S. beef producers are a step closer to more access to the European beef market

Bloomberg, Content provider

November 28, 2019

2 Min Read
meat-case-camij-GettyImages-SIZED-450497997.jpg
camij/iStock/Getty Images Plus

The U.S. moved a step closer on Thursday to gaining greater access to the European Union beef market, an economic win for American farmers suffering from global tariff wars induced by President Donald Trump’s protectionism.

The European Parliament voted to give the U.S. almost 80% — or 35,000 metric tons — of the bloc’s annual quota on hormone-free beef. Under the plan, approved by EU lawmakers, the U.S. share will be 40% initially and gradually increase over the ensuing six years.

This marks a rare bright spot in transatlantic trade ties amid EU frustration at the Trump administration over:

* Tariffs it imposed last year on European steel and aluminum based on controversial national-security grounds

* U.S. duties introduced in October on a range of EU goods from planes to spirits in retaliation over subsidies to Airbus that were judged to be illegal

* A refusal by Washington to begin negotiations to cut levies on industrial goods because of Europe’s rejection of widening the scope of talks to include agriculture

* A looming deadlock on the World Trade Organization’s appellate body, to which the U.S. has refused to consider any new appointments

* The Trump administration’s lingering threat of imposing auto tariffs on European carmakers

Negotiated in June by European Farm Commissioner Phil Hogan, who is due to become EU trade chief on Dec. 1, the beef offer to the U.S. involved persuading Australia, Argentina and Uruguay to cede chunks of the bloc’s overall 45,000-ton import quota.

The amount was set a decade ago to settle a transatlantic dispute over an EU ban on meat from cattle that were given growth hormones. WTO rules required the volumes to be made available to other nations that export beef, and Australia, Argentina and Uruguay gradually replaced the U.S. as the largest suppliers.

In short, American farmers are regaining through political forces what they lost through economic ones.

In a sign of how keen the EU is to deliver on the deal in time for it to take effect in January, the 28-nation Parliament brought forward its vote from December. That leaves only EU governments to give their rubber stamp by year-end.

To contact the author of this story:
Jonathan Stearns in Brussels at [email protected]

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Zoe Schneeweiss at [email protected]
Craig Stirling
Richard Bravo

About the Author

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like