On Tuesday 2 October, the draft decision was made public that will enable the European Commission to negotiate with the USA on the import of high quality beef that is not treated with certain growth hormones.
This step is part of the European commitment to explore tracks to deepen the transatlantic trade relationship. It involves allocating the USA part of a quota that is already open and that can be used by other countries too.
The member states have not amended the Commission's draft mandate in substance that was published in September (see EUROPE 12087). The decision will be approved on Wednesday 10 October at the meeting of the member state ambassadors to the EU (Coreper).
"Copa and Cogeca support these negotiations aiming to reduce the trade tension, as long as the parameters of the agreement are respected: no hormones, and no increase in the quotas of 45,000 tonnes, all countries combined, and in agreement with the rules of the WTO", Pekka Pesonen, the secretary general of the European agricultural lobby, told EUROPE.
Further information can be found at: https://bit.ly/2OCnixa. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)