U.S.-EU Agriculture Issues

U.S. and EU representatives reaffirmed their commitment to open investment policies at the second meeting of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), which took place in Brussels, Belgium, on May 13. They also moved forward on removing restrictions on U.S. poultry exports to the EU and addressing EU concerns about U.S. approval procedures for certain electrical products. The American delegation was led by Daniel Price, Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and U.S. chair of the TEC. European Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen headed the EU side.

2008: U.S., EU Discuss Investment, Poultry at Second Transatlantic Economic Council Meeting (May 13, 2008) | FDA Issues Risk Assessment, Industry Guidance on Animal Clones (Jan 2008) | Statement on FDA Risk Assessment on Animal Clones (Jan 15, 2008)

The U.S. and the EU held the first meeting of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) in Washington, D.C., on November 9, 2007 (Readout of meeting and joint statement). The TEC, which was established by President George W. Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the European Commission President José Manuel Barroso at the April 30, 2007, U.S.-EU summit, aims to oversee and guide joint efforts to lower barriers to trade and investment between the United States and the European Union. It is co-chaired by National Economic Council chairman Al Hubbard and European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen. Other members of the TEC include Secretaries Paulson (Treasury), Gutierrez (Commerce), Chertoff (Homeland Security), and Chao (Labor), U.S. Trade Representative Schwab, Environmental Protection Administrator Johnson, and their counterparts in the European Commission. The EU Presidency was represented by Portuguese Minister for Economy and Innovation Manuel Pinho.

2007: New Transatlantic Economic Council Works to Dismantle Regulatory Barriers (includes joint statement) (Nov 9, 2007) | U.S. Submits Notification of Domestic Agricultural Support Payments to WTO (Oct 4, 2007) (Press Conference Transcript) | Amb. Gray Discusses U.S.-EU Economic Issues after Bush, Barroso, Merkel Meetings (Jan 9, 2007)

A final rule setting uniform importation requirements for swine and swine products from the European Union (EU) was adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture May 19. The rule, which takes effect June 19, amends restrictions related to safeguarding against classical swine fever (CSF) by setting the same standards for all 15 EU member states, effectively expanding the list of EU nations recognized as part of a region at low risk for CSF. The department indicated that the change particularly would benefit Luxemburg and parts of Germany and Italy not previously recognized as free of CSF. Although the effect on U.S. industries will be minor, the rule is expected “to lead more generally to improved trade relations between the United States and the EU,” according to the department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

2006: United States Streamlines Import Restrictions on EU Swine (May 20, 2006) | U.S., EU Ministers Reaffirm Positions on WTO Negotiations (Feb 22, 2006) | WTO Upholds U.S. Challenge to European Ban on Biotech Food (Feb 8, 2006)

2005: WTO Success Depends on EU Farm Tariff Cuts, U.S. Official Says (Dec 19, 2005) | United States Urges "Ambitious" Cut in Agricultural Subsidies (Nov 12, 2005) | U.S. Disappointed by Latest EU Proposal in WTO on Farm Tariffs (Oct 28, 2005) | Bush Seeks End to Agricultural Subsidies by 2010 (Jul 7, 2005) | U.S.-EU Agreement on Brown Rice Reached in Trade Dispute (Feb 28, 2005)

2004: U.S. Lists Concerns at WTO Trade Policy Review of the EC (Oct 25, 2004) | France, Spain Ruled Free of Classical Swine Fever (Apr 20, 2004 ) | U.S. and 11 Nations to Use Methyl Bromide Through 2005 (Mar 27, 2004)

2003: Zoellick: EU Ag Subsidy Reform Crucial for WTO Success (May 1, 2003) | FDA Proposes Rule of Prior Notice of Shipped Food (Jan 29, 2003)

2002: U.S., EC Reach Agreement on American Grain Exports (Nov 12, 2002 ) | EU Welcomes Lifting of U.S. Ban on Spanish Clementines (Oct 22, 2002) | U.S. Allows Conditional Importation of Spanish Clementines (Oct 16, 2002) | U.S. Seeks Voluntary System on Wine, Spirits Naming Rights (Sep 20, 2002 ) | U.S. Proposes Conditional Importation of Spanish Clementines (Jul 12, 2002) | U.S. Opposes EC Plan to Restrict Access of Grains, Rice (Jun 28, 2002 ) | Fact Sheet: U.S. International Obligations Under 2002 Farm Bill (Jun 24, 2002) | Agriculture Secretary Rebuts Foreign Critics of Farm Bill (May 21, 2002) | U.S. Trade Official Outlines Position on Steel, Agriculture (May 16, 2002) | Farm Bill Strengthens U.S. Agriculture, Bush Says (May 13, 2002) | Agriculture's Veneman on the Precautionary Principle, Subsidies, (Jan 7, 2002)