has criticised the burdensome "Pork for the European Union" programme that its producers and processors have to comply with if they want to export pigmeat to Europe.The calls for EurEU - American pork is not up to EU standards
The States is stepping up its demands for easier access to the European pigmeat market.
It has criticised the burdensome "Pork for the European Union" programme that its producers and processors have to comply with if they want to export pigmeat to Europe.
The calls for Europe to be less protectionist are made in a new report by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
In particular it cites the European Union ban on pork produced with Ractopamine, a feed additive to promote leanness in pigs and other livestock.
It criticises Brussels' failure to accept the maximum residue threshold for Ractopamine in beef and pork adopted in July last year after a Codex Alimentarius vote.
(The Codex Alimentarius sets internationally recognised standards relating to foods, food production and food safety.)
The United States pledges to continue pushing Brussels to adopt international standards "or provide sufficient scientific evidence to support its unwarranted trade barriers".
Washington is also calling on the European Union to allow greater market access for its tallow and says it awaits a draft amendment that could remove the effective prohibition on tallow intended for the manufacture of biodiesel.
On the antimicrobial treatment of poultry – or so-called pathogen reduction treatments – it notes that a panel established at the World Trade Organisation dispute settlement body is addressing the matter and litigation is pending.
At a time when President Barack Obama is hoping to double United States exports by the end of 2014 and both sides of the Atlantic are poised to enter into free trade talks, the USTR is pushing governments to dismantle barriers to United States food and agricultural exports.
