990750 Canada to Slap 100% Tariff on EU Beef & Pork

Ottawa - Canada said it would impose 100% tariffs on exports of beef, pork, cucumbers and gherkins from Europe in retaliation for the EU's decade-old ban on imports of hormone-treated beef from Canada and the United States.

Canada will implement the trade sanctions, which total C$11.3 million annually, beginning August 1, the trade department said.

“Our goal is to regain access to the EU market, not retaliate. But since the EU has neither opened its market, nor offered acceptable interim compensation, we have no choice but to retaliate,” Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief said.

The World Trade Organization on Monday authorized $124.3 million in trade sanctions sought by the United States and Canada against European Union food sales.

The United States has imposed 100% duties on fine European foods such as Roquefort cheese, foie gras, truffles, Danish hams and German soups in retaliation for the ban.

Canada said the duties will remain in effect until the EU complies with its WTO obligations, but it left the door open to more discussions with the EU on compensation.

“Compliance with the obligations would mean either that the EU restores market access to Canadian beef, or that Canada and the EU reach a mutually satisfactory solution that includes appropriate compensation to Canada,” the trade department said in a statement, adding that the EU has not yet offered a “reasonable compensation package.”

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