The European Union will not compromise on food standards, EU negotiators have told the US.
Just a few days into the pause on across-the-board US tariffs, the EU is trying to negotiate away Donald Trump’s protectionist measures.
US tariffs at 25 percent on European steel, aluminium and cars remain in place, whilst US 20 percent tariffs on nearly all other goods has been paused for 90 days.
The EU’s Trade Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, returned without a deal yesterday, but with the promise that officials will continue the work.
The EU has offered the US a “zero for zero” trade tariff deal on industrial goods including cars, chemicals and machinery.
White House adviser, Kevin Hassett, told Fox News on Monday that the two sides had made “enormous progress”.
“It’s going to be very good for American workers, especially Americans auto workers”, he claimed.
But the US President has been far less optimistic, threatening new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, particularly targeting Ireland, and repeatedly criticising the EU for ‘refusing’ to accept US cars and US agricultural products.
The European Commission has pushed back, saying that the “zero for zero” deal would open up new opportuntites for the American car industry.
But on agriculture, the figures are clearly skewed.
The United States is the EU’s biggest market outside Europe for agrifood, worth €30 million last year. That was up 12 percent on 2023.
Americans increasingly appear to have a taste for European food products.
By contrast, US agrifood exports to the EU have remained flat at around €12 million.
Trump has complained that EU rules block US products. And on this, he might have a point.
Europeans are not prepared to accept chlorinated chicken or hormone beef and GM crops remains a sensitive subject in Europe.
US companies also struggle with rules on, for example wine labelling, “complicating US wine exports”.
But the European Commission says that’s not going to change.
“EU standards particularly as they relate to food health and safety are sacrosanct”, said the EU’s trade spokesperson, Olof Gill.
“That’s not part of the negotiation, it never will be, not with the US, not with anyone else”.
Likewise EU rules on technology and digital markets “is not up for negotiation.”
That might be a relief to Irish and European farmers and consumers, but it doesn’t help the negotiators who have a narrow window both in time and scope with which to negotiate with the United States.