990363 U.S. Meat Groups Groups Comment on EC Resignations

Washington - The following statement was released by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Meat Institute, Chiquita Brands International, and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association in response to the resignation of the entire 20-member European Commission following the publication of a report on fraud and mismanagement.

“Confirmation of mismanagement and cronyism in Brussels must not be used by the EU as another excuse to ignore World Trade Organization rulings on bananas and beef and to maintain those illegal trade regimes that benefit specified European multinational banana marketers and block market access to American beef products.

“In the past decade, EU policies on bananas and beef have been declared illegal on numerous occasions by international trade panels. As part of the effort to address its internal issues, the EU should obey international trade law and bring its policies into full conformity with WTO rulings. The United States is right to hold steadfast to its course of retaliation until the EU does so.”

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