March 15, 2012

EU ends beef trade dispute with the US and Canada

Europe's two-decade beef trade war with the US and Canada ended Wednesday (Mar 14) after agreeing to increase imports of high-quality meat while continuing its ban on beef from animals that are fed with hormones.

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a deal to resolve the dispute, which erupted in 1988 when Europe banned imports of beef products from animals that are given growth hormones.

The US and Canada, with the backing of the World Trade Organization, retaliated by limiting imports of certain EU products ranging from chocolate to cheese and mustard in 1999.

The deal will see the 27-nation European Union increase imports of hormone-free US beef by 25,000 tonnes, bringing the annual total to 45,000 tonnes, and Canadian beef imports by 3,200 tonnes.

The United States and Canada have already fulfilled their end of the bargain by lifting the sanctions on European products.

The parliament voted 650 in favour, 11 against to endorse the 2009 agreement.