Trade Representative, Office of United States August 13, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On May 13, 2009, the United States and the European Communities (``EC'') announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the Beef Hormones dispute. Under the first phase of the agreement, the EC is obligated to open a new beef tariff-rate quota (TRQ) in the amount of 20,000 metric tons at zero rate of duty. The United States in turn is obligated not to increase additional duties above those in effect as of March 23, 2009. The EC opened the new beef TRQ on August 1, 2009. This notice undertakes the process necessary to implement U.S. obligations under the first phase of the MOU and to pursue additional market access under subsequent phases of the MOU.