US delays extra duties on new list of EU products amid beef dispute

The US Trade Representative's (USTR) office said Friday (Mar 13) it will hold off for a month on imposing additional duties on a modified list of EU products, the latest development in a longstanding dispute over the use of hormones in beef.

Under a World Trade Organization ruling announced January 15, the additional duties were scheduled to take effect March 23, 2009. The delay pushes the effective date back to April 23, 2009.

USTR spokesperson Nefeterius McPherson said the purpose of the modified trade action announced earlier this year was to encourage a resolution of the longstanding beef hormones dispute that would offer a fair outcome for the US beef industry, while also addressing the economic impact of the prior trade action on US interests.

McPherson said USTR is currently in discussions with the European Commission on a possible interim solution that would provide benefits for US beef producers.

He added that these discussions have made progress, although several important issues remain to be resolved.