Brussels, 04/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - Following a meeting with Argentina's agriculture minister Miguel Angel Paulon in Barcelona, Commissioner Franz Fischler has announced that he is intending to propose a special autonomous 10,000 tonne import quota for high quality beef ("Hilton Beef") on top of the country's 28,000 tonne annual quota for the period July 2002 to June 2003. Mr Fischler said "the EU is the first country to have reopened its markets for Argentine meat imports after the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. Now we are the first to take trade expanding measures to assist the recovery of the Argentine economy. I truly hope that other countries will join the EU in its move". He also proposed a special 1000 tonne Hilton Beef import quota for Paraguay. The Hilton Beef tariff quota (58,100 tonnes) is currently broken down as follows: Argentina 28,000 tonnes; USA and Canada 11,500 tonnes; Australia 7,000 tonnes; Uruguay 6,300 tonnes; Brazil 5,000 tonnes; and New Zealand 300 tonnes.