End to long running ‘beef wars’ welcomed by Emma McClarkin MEP

East Midlands MEP Emma McClarkin has today welcomed the ending of a long-running food-trade war as a significant step forward in trans-Atlantic relations.

The European Parliament sitting in Strasbourg voted to allow the importation of high-quality beef from the United States and Canada on a zero-duty tariff rate.

The move is seen as bringing an end to a divisive tit-for-tat trade war over foodstuffs which has soured commercial relations between Europe and North America for more than 20 years.

The dispute began in 1988 when the European Union banned imports of beef containing certain growth-promoting hormones.

In retaliation, the USA and Canada imposed sanctions on EU agricultural products including mustard, sausage and Roquefort cheese.

After recent negotiations between all sides it has been agreed that the USA and Canada will gradually lift their sanctions in exchange for the creation of the special tariff rate for hormone-free high-quality beef.

Emma said: “I fully welcome today’s news as it will bring to an end a longstanding trade dispute between the world’s largest economic powers. This move by the EU, USA and Canada is a step in the right direction and can only further our trans-Atlantic partnership.

“I hope it will lead to further dismantling of similar barriers to trade that will act as a catalyst for increased prosperity on both sides of the pond.

“Trade and investment barriers are substantial obstacles to economic growth costing the EU billions of euros a year. Action taken to remove them will be central to EU trade strategy of the coming decades and essential if the EU is to emerge strongly from the current economic crisis.”