Beef Goes to Europe
Maybe, just maybe, U.S. beef producers will see a market opened to their product. I'm Jeff Keane .After years and years of being denied access by the European Union, U.S. beef may be heading to markets in Europe. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced the E.U. will buy more high-value American beef. The E.U. has used the excuse that U.S. beef contains hormones that are not safe. The World Trade Organization has ruled time after time that there is insufficient evidence to support that claim, but that didn't seem to make any difference to the E.U. So what brought this organization around to a different decision that lets U.S. beef enter their marketing channels? Well, it seems that United States finally decided to impose punitive trade sanctions on European Union products sold in America. Italian mineral water and French Roquefort cheese were two trade items that would have seen higher tariffs placed on them. Of course, producers on both sides feel the other is getting the most benefit. The deal stipulates both sides would not bring any new legal actions before the WTO for at least 18 months and seek a permanent solution within four years. The negotiation still needs the approval of the U.S. Congress and E.U. governments. So while Ron Kirk feels it is "99 percent there," one percent is plenty of area for politicians to make the outcome interesting. I'm Jeff Keane.
