01/22/09 Beef Wars

The United States and the European Union have been battling over our beef products since the cows have come home. Beef from cattle fed on hormones has been shunned or banned by the European Union since the '80's on the grounds that it isn't safe. The United States recently announced changes to trade sanctions it applies on European goods, prompting Brussels to accuse Washington of escalating a 13-year-old beef dispute and threaten new legal action. The U.S. will continue to charge higher import fees on many targeted goods. It has now added dozens of new products from pork, poultry and beef cuts to types of oats, sausages, mineral water and chewing gum. In its final days, the bush Administration made a counter move in keeping certain cuts of pork on a list that demands import duties. National Pork Producers Council President, Bryan Black comments: "We feel that it's an unfair trading practice for EU to ban U.S. beef and we're also looking to get into that market so any pressure that we can keep on the EU is beneficial not only to the beef folks, but also to us." EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton said. "A large number of EU exporters will be hit by these illegal sanctions." and in a parting shot at Bush she said: "We look forward to working with the new administration to address this situation."