EU/USA Agreement on the Allocation of a Share in the Tariff Rate Quota: opening an autonomous tariff quota for imports of high-quality beef

PURPOSE: to conclude an EU-US Agreement reviewing the functioning of an existing trade arrangement ensuring an autonomous tariff quota (TRQ) for imports of high-quality beef into the EU.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2019/2073 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the United States of America and the European Union on the Allocation to the United States of a Share in the Tariff Rate Quota for High Quality Beef referred to in the Revised Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Importation of Beef from Animals Not Treated with Certain Growth-Promoting Hormones and Increased Duties Applied by the United States to Certain Products of the European Union (2014).

CONTENT: the Council approved, on behalf of the European Union, the Agreement between the United States of America and the EU on the allocation to the United States of a share in the tariff quota for high-quality beef referred to in the Memorandum of Understanding on the importation of beef from animals not treated with certain growth-promoting hormones and increased duties applied by the United States to certain EU products, which was concluded in 2009 and revised in 2014.

Under the new Agreement, the existing quota shall remain unchanged but 35 000 out of the total 45 000-tonne TRQ shall be ring-fenced for the United States and phased in over a period of 7 years. The remaining quantity of 10 000 metric tonnes shall be made available to all other countries.

The autonomous tariff quotas shall continue to cover only products complying with EU's high food safety and health standards. This step is key to resolving a long-standing dispute between the EU and the United States on measures imposed by the EU in 1989 on US exports of beef treated with certain growth-promoting hormones.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 05/12/2019.