The EU is under pressure to strike a trade deal with Trump, but an influx of mass-produced, low-quality food must be off the table, says Guardian Europe columnist Alexander Hurst
It has already been stated that the import of food items, in detriment of the higher EU food standards, will not be negotiable.
Two simple examples: chicken and beef.
For beef, it would be as simple as stop pumping cattle with steroids and attest the origin of the animal, two things american rancher are unwilling and often unable to do. Argentina and Brasil sell meat to the EU. Isn’t the US as capable?
Stop washing chicken with chemicals (likewise, eggs), treat the animals properly, with good sanitary conditions, no steroids, and it will be fine.
But the real issue is that the EU already produces enough beef and chicken indoors. And meat consumption has been in a sharp decline. No one will buy what they don’t.
Besides these two, it would make a difference if the US stopped using artificial food colorings, with proven bad effects on health.
From what I’ve heard they wouldn’t be completely uncompetitive the issue is they don’t bother to do the necessary tracking: The US government introduced a domestic scheme to label GMO and hormone-free beef but their customers don’t care so the industry doesn’t care so noone participates so they don’t have the certs to export to the EU.
Under pressure for what?
It has already been stated that the import of food items, in detriment of the higher EU food standards, will not be negotiable.
Two simple examples: chicken and beef.
For beef, it would be as simple as stop pumping cattle with steroids and attest the origin of the animal, two things american rancher are unwilling and often unable to do. Argentina and Brasil sell meat to the EU. Isn’t the US as capable?
Stop washing chicken with chemicals (likewise, eggs), treat the animals properly, with good sanitary conditions, no steroids, and it will be fine.
But the real issue is that the EU already produces enough beef and chicken indoors. And meat consumption has been in a sharp decline. No one will buy what they don’t.
Besides these two, it would make a difference if the US stopped using artificial food colorings, with proven bad effects on health.
There are more issues.
From what I’ve heard they wouldn’t be completely uncompetitive the issue is they don’t bother to do the necessary tracking: The US government introduced a domestic scheme to label GMO and hormone-free beef but their customers don’t care so the industry doesn’t care so noone participates so they don’t have the certs to export to the EU.