USTR Hails Latest WTO Ruling On Hormone Ban As “Important Victory”
USTR Hails Latest WTO Ruling On Hormone Ban As “Important Victory”
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab announced today in a news release “that a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel has found that the 2003 amended ban by the European Union (EU) on beef from certain hormone-treated cattle continues to be scientifically unjustified. The panel found that the ban fails to satisfy the requirements of the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and that the scientific studies cited by the EU do not support the position of the EU.”
Although the WTO ruling does not mean the EU will end its ban on imports of U.S. beef produced with the aid of growth promotants, Ambassador Schwab hailed the ruling as “an important victory for all U.S. farmers and ranchers. EU consumers should have access to U.S. beef – it is of high quality, safe and competitive.”
She added that “the findings confirm the principle that measures imposed for health reasons must be based on science. It is high time for the EU to come into compliance with its obligations on this matter.”
The WTO ruling is a major setback to the EU in its ongoing effort to force the United States to lift its retaliatory duties on European products such as Roquefort cheese, truffles and Dijon mustard. The WTO panel found, however, that the United States and Canada should have initiated new legal proceedings in order to maintain the sanctions after the EU amended its ban in 2003.
Both sides can appeal the ruling.
Industry News
Corn Acreage Projected Down 8 Percent, Soybeans Up 18 Percent Vs. 2007
The USDA reported today that corn growers intend to plant 8 percent fewer acres of corn in 2008 than the previous year. Last year corn growers planted the most acreage since 1944. Despite the decrease, corn acreage for all purposes will still reach 86 million acres in 2008. The corn planting forecast is smaller than most analysts’ estimates, said Erin Daley, USMEF manager of research and analysis, which likely will spur higher corn futures prices. Corn demand this year will exceed that of last year while the crop is expected to be significantly smaller; resulting in record low ending stocks.
Expected corn acreage is down from last year in most states as favorable prices for other crops, high input costs for corn, and crop rotation considerations are motivating some farmers to plant fewer acres to corn. USDA notes that corn acreage is expected to remain at historically high levels as the corn price outlook remains strong due in part to the continued expansion in ethanol production.
Soybean producers intend to plant 74.8 million acres in 2008, up 18 percent from last year, but 1 percent below the record high acreage in 2006. Acreage increases are expected in all states except in West Virginia, which is unchanged from last year. The largest increases are expected in Iowa and Nebraska, up 1.25 million acres and 1.20 million acres from 2007, respectively. Increases of at least 800,000 acres are also expected in Indiana, Minnesota, and South Dakota. If realized, the planted acreage in Kansas, New York, and Pennsylvania will be the largest on record.
Japan
Diet’s Upper House Passes Tax Bill, Import Duties Unchanged
Japan’s Upper House passed the tax bill today that will keep the existing duties for beef and pork imports unchanged. Japan’s ports should have been notified today in time for the beginning of Japan’s new fiscal year tomorrow.
The tax bill was passed by the Lower House earlier this month.
Ministry Will Ask FSC To Review Safety Of Cloned Meat
Japan’s ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) is expected to announce shortly that it is asking the Food Safety Commission (FSC) to review the safety of cloned meat. The FSC is expected to determine that meat from cloned animals is safe, based on Japanese, U.S. and European research.
MHLW released a risk assessment report on the meat from cloned cattle in May 2003 in which it concluded that “it is highly unlikely that cloned cattle from embryonic cell nucleus and/or from somatic cell nucleus will increase the risk to damage food safety. However, cloning is very recently emerging technique and we need to pay prudent consideration to the safety of food from cloned cattle.”
Russia
Updated List Of U.S. Pork Facilities Online
The Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its list of U.S. pork and cold storage facilities approved for export to Russia in its online Export Library.
USTR Hails Latest WTO Ruling On Hormone Ban As “Important Victory”
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab announced today in a news release “that a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel has found that the 2003 amended ban by the European Union (EU) on beef from certain hormone-treated cattle continues to be scientifically unjustified. The panel found that the ban fails to satisfy the requirements of the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and that the scientific studies cited by the EU do not support the position of the EU.”
Although the WTO ruling does not mean the EU will end its ban on imports of U.S. beef produced with the aid of growth promotants, Ambassador Schwab hailed the ruling as “an important victory for all U.S. farmers and ranchers. EU consumers should have access to U.S. beef – it is of high quality, safe and competitive.”
She added that “the findings confirm the principle that measures imposed for health reasons must be based on science. It is high time for the EU to come into compliance with its obligations on this matter.”
The WTO ruling is a major setback to the EU in its ongoing effort to force the United States to lift its retaliatory duties on European products such as Roquefort cheese, truffles and Dijon mustard. The WTO panel found, however, that the United States and Canada should have initiated new legal proceedings in order to maintain the sanctions after the EU amended its ban in 2003.
Both sides can appeal the ruling.
Industry News
Corn Acreage Projected Down 8 Percent, Soybeans Up 18 Percent Vs. 2007
The USDA reported today that corn growers intend to plant 8 percent fewer acres of corn in 2008 than the previous year. Last year corn growers planted the most acreage since 1944. Despite the decrease, corn acreage for all purposes will still reach 86 million acres in 2008. The corn planting forecast is smaller than most analysts’ estimates, said Erin Daley, USMEF manager of research and analysis, which likely will spur higher corn futures prices. Corn demand this year will exceed that of last year while the crop is expected to be significantly smaller; resulting in record low ending stocks.
Expected corn acreage is down from last year in most states as favorable prices for other crops, high input costs for corn, and crop rotation considerations are motivating some farmers to plant fewer acres to corn. USDA notes that corn acreage is expected to remain at historically high levels as the corn price outlook remains strong due in part to the continued expansion in ethanol production.
Soybean producers intend to plant 74.8 million acres in 2008, up 18 percent from last year, but 1 percent below the record high acreage in 2006. Acreage increases are expected in all states except in West Virginia, which is unchanged from last year. The largest increases are expected in Iowa and Nebraska, up 1.25 million acres and 1.20 million acres from 2007, respectively. Increases of at least 800,000 acres are also expected in Indiana, Minnesota, and South Dakota. If realized, the planted acreage in Kansas, New York, and Pennsylvania will be the largest on record.
Japan
Diet’s Upper House Passes Tax Bill, Import Duties Unchanged
Japan’s Upper House passed the tax bill today that will keep the existing duties for beef and pork imports unchanged. Japan’s ports should have been notified today in time for the beginning of Japan’s new fiscal year tomorrow.
The tax bill was passed by the Lower House earlier this month.
Ministry Will Ask FSC To Review Safety Of Cloned Meat
Japan’s ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) is expected to announce shortly that it is asking the Food Safety Commission (FSC) to review the safety of cloned meat. The FSC is expected to determine that meat from cloned animals is safe, based on Japanese, U.S. and European research.
MHLW released a risk assessment report on the meat from cloned cattle in May 2003 in which it concluded that “it is highly unlikely that cloned cattle from embryonic cell nucleus and/or from somatic cell nucleus will increase the risk to damage food safety. However, cloning is very recently emerging technique and we need to pay prudent consideration to the safety of food from cloned cattle.”
Russia
Updated List Of U.S. Pork Facilities Online
The Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its list of U.S. pork and cold storage facilities approved for export to Russia in its online Export Library.