Duty-free Quota Boosts Opportunities for U.S. Beef in Europe
The European Union's recent opening of a new, zero-duty quota for high-quality beef has created expanded opportunities for U.S. beef producers and suppliers. The quota, which came into force in August, allows for 20,000 metric tons of high-quality beef at an in-quota tariff of zero. This is in addition to the existing 11,500 metric ton quota that carries a tariff of 20%.
EU import license allocations for U.S. beef during the first quarter of 2010 totaled 2,525 metric tons, an increase of 125% over allocations made last year under the old quota. EU import data for January 2010 (the latest month available) show a 58% increase in imports from the United States, with the U.S. share of the EU's chilled beef imports rising from 7% last year to 9% in 2010.
Beef exported under the new quota must be derived from non-hormone-treated cattle (NHTC) that are less than 30 months of age. Click here for more about the checkoff's foreign marketing activities.
Source: Cattlemen's Beef Board
