Last Friday, a White House signing ceremony was held for an agreement that will establish a duty-free quota for high-quality American beef in the European Union (EU). The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the signing of the agreement that establishes a duty-free quota for high-quality U.S. beef from non-hormone treated cattle. Once implemented, the annual quota will increase from 18,500 metric tons in year one to 35,000 metric tons in year seven. The country-specific quota will benefit U.S. beef producers who participate in USDA’s non-hormone treated cattle program that was established in 1999.
Here are comments from Ambassador Robert Lighthizer on the new agreement.
Here is Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Censky with comments on the new U.S./EU beef trade agreement.
The USTR estimates that this quota will increase annual U.S. beef sales in Europe from $150 million to $420 million in year seven.