Source: MEATINGPLACE, 3/30/17

The Trump administration is considering imposing tariffs of 100 percent on Perrier mineral water, Vespa motor scooters and Roquefort cheese in response to the European Union’s (EU) ban on American beef from hormone-treated cattle, the Wall Street Journal reported. 

The beef case will offer an early demonstration of how aggressive the administration is likely to be with trading partners, according to the article.

In 1998, the EU lost a case at the World Trade Organization for banning American beef. In 2009, the U.S. negotiated an agreement to allow limited market access for specially produced beef that meets EU standards, but the U.S. beef industry has been prevented from gaining the intended benefits from the agreement because of increased imports under the duty-free quota from non-U.S. suppliers.

Separately, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration will seek modest but numerous changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), citing a draft of a letter sent to Congress last week.

Trump last month downplayed the extent of changes he will seek in U.S./Canadian trade as he looks to re-negotiate NAFTA.

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