Determination Not To Reinstate Action in Connection With the European Union's Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products, 68286-68287 [2019-26924]

Agencies

• Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68286-68287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26924]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Determination Not To Reinstate Action in Connection With the 
European Union's Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In December 2016, the U.S. Trade Representative initiated a 
proceeding to reinstate action against the European Union (EU) in order 
to exercise the WTO authorization to suspend concessions in connection 
with the dispute EC-Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products. In 
light of successful negotiations with the EU to resolve U.S. concerns 
with the operation of the U.S.-EU Beef MOU, the U.S. Trade 
Representative has determined to conclude the proceeding with a 
determination not to reinstate action.

DATES: The proceeding is terminated effective January 1, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Wentzel, Deputy Assistant U.S. 
Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs at (202) 395-6127, David 
Weiner, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe at (202) 
395-9679, or Amanda Blunt, Assistant General Counsel at (202) 395-9579.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    For background prior to December 2016, please see the notice 
initiating this proceeding (81 FR 95724). On December 9, 2016, 
representatives of the U.S. beef industry requested that the U.S. Trade 
Representative reinstate action against the EU pursuant to Section 
306(c) of the 1974 Trade Act, as amended (Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 
2416(c)). The primary concern of the U.S. industry was that non-U.S. 
exporters had been filling a substantial part of the 45,000 MT tariff-
rate quota (TRQ) for high-quality beef (HQB) products established by 
the 2009 U.S.-EU Beef MOU, which denied the benefits to the United 
States expected under the MOU. Pursuant to this request, the U.S. Trade 
Representative initiated a proceeding under Section 306(c) to consider 
a reinstatement of

[[Page 68287]]

action. The interagency Section 301 Committee held a public hearing on 
February 15 and 16, 2017, and received public comments in connection 
with the request.
    Following the initiation of this proceeding, the United States 
entered into negotiations with the EU to address U.S. concerns with the 
operation of the HQB TRQ. The negotiations concluded successfully, with 
an agreement to allocate most of the HQB TRQ to the United States. On 
August 2, 2019, the EU and United States signed the Agreement on the 
Allocation to the United States of a Share in the Tariff Rate Quota for 
High Quality Beef Referred to in the Revised MOU Regarding the 
Importation of Beef from Animals Not Treated with Certain Grown-
promoting Hormones and Increased Duties Applied by the United States to 
Certain Products of the European Union. Pursuant to this agreement, the 
EU will allocate to the United States 35,000 metric tons of the 45,000 
metric tons HQB TRQ established under the 2009 U.S.-EU Beef MOU. The 
agreement is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2020.

B. Determination Not To Reinstate Action

    In light of the successful negotiation to allocate the HQB TRQ 
established by the 2009 U.S.-EU Beef MOU, the U.S. Trade Representative 
has decided to conclude this proceeding under Section 306(c) of the 
Trade Act with a determination not to reinstate action, effective 
January 1, 2020. This determination has been made in consultation with 
the U.S. beef industry, and in accordance with the advice of the 
interagency Section 301 committee.
    The United States continues to have an authorization to suspend 
concessions in connection with the dispute EC-Measures Concerning Meat 
and Meat Products. The U.S. Trade Representative will continue to 
monitor EU implementation of the MOU and other developments affecting 
market access for U.S. beef products. If implementation of the MOU and 
other developments do not proceed as contemplated, the Trade 
Representative may consider additional actions under Section 301 of the 
Trade Act.

Joseph Barloon,
General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2019-26924 Filed 12-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F0-P