Statement by Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman on the WTO's Decision 
July 12, 1999
                                            Release No. 0283.99
                                
                           Statement
                                
                               by
                                
             Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman
                       on the WTO's Decision
                                
                         July 12, 1999
                                
"Today the World Trade Organization (WTO) will announce that its Arbitrator
has found U.S. trade losses due to the European Union's (EU) scientifically
unjustified ban on U.S. beef total $116.8 million.  While we believe the
Arbitrator significantly underestimated the actual trade damage to U.S. beef
and beef variety meat exports, we accept the Arbitrator's findings.
                                
"Now that the Arbitrator has ruled, we need to move quickly to exercise our
WTO rights.  We are preparing to withdraw access for EU products to the United
States equal to the full $116.8 million value.  A final list of products to be
covered will be announced within the next few weeks.  The products will be
drawn from the preliminary list published in the Federal Register on March 25,
                             1999.
                                
"The decision confirms the U.S. position that the EU ban on U.S. beef must be
lifted.  The EU ban is not based on sound science and is wholly unjustified.
It must remain clear that the EU is still obligated to lift the ban.  Until it
does so, the United States will fully exercise its rights under the WTO.  We
still believe that providing EU consumers with a choice through labeling of
   U.S. beef offers an appropriate solution to this impasse."
                                
                                
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