Proposed US restrictions on imports of agricultural products from the EU

Citation

Jukes, D. (1999), "Proposed US restrictions on imports of agricultural products from the EU", British Food Journal, Vol. 101 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj.1999.070101dab.014

Proposed US restrictions on imports of agricultural products from the EU

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown has called for further efforts by the EU and USA to resolve a dispute over the EU’s veterinary restrictions on trade in beef.

The Minister’s comments came after the US Government’s decision to publish a provisional list of principally agricultural products on which the USA may impose retaliatory import duties if the EU fails to lift its import ban on meat from animals treated with hormone growth promoters by the 13 May deadline set by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Mr Brown said: ‘‘We fully respect the WTO’s ruling requiring the EU to meet the 13 May deadline. I hope that the USA will work with the EU to find a solution. I want to avoid economic retaliation which could damage businesses that have nothing to do with the dispute. The UK voted against the EU ban on the grounds that it is not justified by the science’’. Mr Brown added, ‘‘Protection of the consumer is of paramount concern to the Government and, if new scientific evidence emerges, we will clearly need to look again at the case for a ban, but there is no basis at present on which to change our view. We are working within the EU to explore constructive solutions, including ideas on labelling meat from hormone-treated animals.’’

The USA has issued an itemised provisional retaliation list. The list applies to exports to the USA from all EU member states. It envisages 100 per cent ad valorem duties. The US Trade Representative has invited comments on the provisional list with a view to reducing it before any retaliatory duties are implemented after 13 May.

A WTO ruling in 1998 found that the EU’s ban on imports of meat from animals treated with hormones is inconsistent with WTO rules because it did not follow from a properly conducted risk assessment. The EU was given until 13 May 1999 to comply with the ruling. The European Commission has recently published a Communication which sets out three options for the EU: to negotiate compensation with the USA and Canada (which both brought the WTO case) until the results of a risk assessment are available; to convert the ten-year old ban into a provisional measure on the basis that inadequate information is currently available; and to lift the ban but require labelling of meat from hormone-treated animals. These options are currently being discussed with member states and with the USA and Canada.