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U.S. & Europe have different trade goals

U.S. and European Union officials are at odds over whether agricultural issues should be included in trade talks.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has made it clear they want to reduce or eliminate tariffs on ag goods and secure market access in the EU.  The European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström told reporters they were not going to include agriculture and focus only on industrial goods.

American Soybean Association President Davie Stephens says they appreciate the administration’s strong move last week to keep agriculture in these trade negotiations.  He says soybean growers are looking for long-term solutions to bounce back from a prolonged period of instability.

The two sides met in Washington last week for early rounds of negotiation, but didn’t reach any breakthroughs. 

The U.S. wants to reach an agreement that eliminates non-tariff barriers against U.S. agricultural goods, eliminate tariff administration restrictions, create enforceable Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures, and stop the EU from requiring other countries to align with their non-science based restrictions.