Ref. Ares(2016)720911 - 10/02/2016
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Directorate-General for Trade
Directorate D - Sustainable Development; Economic Partnership Agreements - African, Caribbean
and Pacific; Agri-food and Fisheries
Agriculture, Fisheries, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Market Access, Biotechnology
Brussels, 10 February 2016
Trade.dga1.d.3
(20
[Art.4.1(b)]
16) 794911
Minutes meeting Maria Asenius – INTERBEV on TTIP and meat (26/01/2016)
Participants:
Interbev: Delegation of 5 people led by Mr Pagès, Director General Interbev,
[Art.4.1(b)] , Interbev [Art.4.1(b)] , Interbev
[Art.4.1(b)]
avocats, Alinea
Bruxelles/Paris
Commission: Maria Asenius (Head of Cabinet Malmström) Miguel Ceballos Baron
(Deputy-Head of Cabinet Malmström),
[Art.4.1(b)]
(TRADE D3)
Report:
Interbev (representing France’s meat chain) expressed their concerns about potential
effects of several ongoing FTA negotiations on the EU beef market. Particularly worries
focus on TTIP, but Mercosur, Australia and New Zealand have also been identified as
problematic for Interbev.
On TTIP, Interbev defends that full liberalisation of trade would have effects on the beef
market.
[Art. 4.1(a) third indent, Art. 4.2 first indent and Art. 4.3 first subparagraph]
Demand for noble cuts is stronger in Europe and US
exporters are keen to exploit this high value segment and focus exports to the EU on
noble cuts, for which EU price is higher than the US one. US producers have a better
price in their home market for minced meat and lower value cuts (hamburgers),
[Art. 4.1(a) third indent, Art. 4.2 first indent and Art. 4.3 first subparagraph]
Interbev underlined as particularly serious if hormone beef would be authorised to enter
the EU market. It also referred to the intensive US feedlot system as a threat to the EU
beef production model of extensive beef production. These areas in Europe are the most
vulnerable to impacts, and the importance of beef production in those regions is of
paramount importance for the local economy.
[Art. 4.2 first indent]
Maria Asenius (MA) assured the visitors that these issues are well known and taken into
account in negotiations. The Commission is aware that beef is a sensitive product.
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111
Office: CHAR
- T
[Art.4.1(b)] el. direct line [Art. 4.1(b)]
@ec.europa.eu
[Art. 4.1(b)]
Besides negotiating tariffs and quotas in a taking into account the EU production model
for beef, the EU is keen to preserve EU food safety standards which will not be lowered.
Normative precluding the usage of hormones in meat production marketed in the EU
market will not be modified as a consequence of TTIP
Interbev recalled that additional concessions towards Australia, New Zealand and
Mercosur, could add to pressure on EU producers. The EU has now an agenda where
trade negotiations are open with all the large world beef exporters. Here, no focus has
been attributed to the production model as those countries produce and export substantial
amounts of beef from extensive production methods.
MA took note of these concerns and recalled trade agenda encompasses too agreements
with countries [Art. 4.1(a) third indent]
which would provide export opportunities for
EU farmers. Interbev agreed, but noted that those agreements do not offset risks from
deals with North America, Mercosur and Oceania.
Miguel Ceballos highlighted that EU trade agenda does not operate in the vacuum, with
TPP offering substantial exporting opportunities
[Art. 4.1(a) third indent]
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