NPPC Slams EU Negotiating Mandates For US Trade Talks

The European Union's (EU) exclusion of agriculture from its draft negotiating mandates for trade talks with the U.S. drew sharp criticism from the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). The U.S. included many ag and food issues in its own negotiating objectives released earlier this month. But, the European Commission left agriculture out its mandates "because of the sensitivity of the sector and the difficulty of finding agreement on geographical indications and intellectual property," according to EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom. The EU decision to exclude agriculture did not come as a surprise. Following a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer earlier this month, Malmstrom tweeted that EU negotiators have been "clear" that they would not "discuss agriculture" during trade talks with the U.S. The omission of ag from the EU mandates did not sit well with the top U.S. pork group. "We are infuriated," said NPPC President Jim Heimerl. "The EU is one of the most protected markets in the world for a lot of agricultural products, including pork. We are pleased that the Trump administration has been resolute in its demand that agriculture be included in the talks."