Agricultural trade differences will be part of negotiations between the United States and the European Union (EU), even if Brussels does not want them, US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Monday (30.7.2018).
«While many would like to see agriculture out of reach, it is our responsibility greater interest in discussing this issue with the EU"especially when it comes to the non-tariff barriers that they continue to enact," Perdue told reporters.
An EU official denied that the issue is included in the agreement announced last week between
Geographical Indications
The minister pointed out as another point of divergence the "increasingly aggressive" European attitude of reserving as «trademark« names of foods like mozzarella, for example, which have been sold in the United States for more than a century.
Brussels wants to prevent other countries from adopting geographical names "and we do not plan to accept that," he said.
Trump and Juncker announced Last week, a truce was reached in the current trade dispute between the United States and Europe. Both countries announced a pact to eliminate US tariffs on steel and aluminium and the retaliatory measures adopted by Brussels.
Agricultural market
Trump also claimed that he had succeeded in opening the European market to American agricultural products. However, an EU spokesman disputed that interpretation.
Perdue's comments were in line with those of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin who on Saturday insisted on "tearing down barriers to agriculture."
Perdue estimated that probably Europe will import more American soybeans because they are cheaper than Brazilian soybeans.
US agricultural producers have been hit by tariffs imposed by China in retaliation for those imposed by Washington on their products. The impact is so severe that last week Washington announced $12.000 billion in aid to producers affected by the trade measures.
With demand from China on the rise, the price for August soybean shipments from Paranaguá, Brazil, was $402,50 a ton versus $340 a ton from Louisiana.
Source: AFP
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