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Biotech / Medical : Monsanto Co. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (2314)	7/20/1999 10:31:00 PM
From: jttmab	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 2539

EU Undeterred By U.S. Threats By PAUL AMES Associated Press Writer BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- European Union officials were not swayed Tuesday by the threat of heavy U.S. tariffs and said they remain wary of American beef because it is treated with growth hormones. They said they hope Washington will accept compensation from Europe rather than retaliate against the EU's ban on American beef with tariffs. "We are ready to pay the price," said Henrik Dam Kristensen, Denmark's minister for foodstuffs. "We want to examine the consequences for consumers of hormone meat." EU officials also said they recognize the legality of the U.S. threat to impose 100 percent tariffs worth an estimated $116.8 million. "The Americans have the right to introduce retaliation measures," said EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler. "On the other hand, we would prefer to see in place not retaliation, but compensation." Fischler's colleague, Trade Commissioner Leon Brittan, wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky last week offering to discuss ways the EU could compensate the United States for losses incurred by the ban on imports of beef from cattle treated with growth hormones. On Monday, Washington announced a list of European products that will be subject to tariffs in retaliation for Europe's refusal to drop the ban. Products include Italian tomatoes, Danish ham and French Roquefort cheese. The sanctions are due to take effect July 29, following approval by the World Trade Organization. Approval is considered a formality, since the WTO has already ruled in favor of a U.S. complaint against the EU ban. More than 90 percent of American cattle producers use hormones that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However the EU argues scientific studies have not proven conclusively that hormone treated beef is safe. EU officials said France, Italy, Germany and Denmark would be hardest hit by the U.S. sanctions. The United States exempted British products from the list in recognition of the British government's opposition to the EU ban. Nunzio Primavera, spokesman for Italy's National Association of Farmers, said the dispute would harm exporters on both sides of the Atlantic and appealed for the United States to back away from the sanctions threat. "The European Union bans all hormone-treated beef. This is not an anti-U.S. policy. It is a general rule that applies to all countries," he said.