Temporary Reprieve From 300% Tariff on Roquefort

Posted by Larry Ervin Apr 25, 2009

President Obama's recent trip to Europe gave me hope and it seems to be bearing fruit.

Good news for blue-cheese fans. Washington has held off implementing a 300% tariff on Roquefort (along with 100% tariffs on a score of other items) for two weeks. The tariffs were scheduled to take effect April 23rd.

There appears to be positive signs that an agreement might be reached in the long-running feud over EU's ban on US beef because of growth hormones.

"We have agreed today that our senior officials will hold further talks with a view to finding a negotiated solution to the long-running dispute," EU trade chief Catherine Ashton said after a phone call with US counterpart Ron Kirk.

"We are both aware that this is a difficult issue that affects businesses and consumers in both the European Union and the United States," she said in a statement.

"We want to overcome those difficulties, and we believe that a solution is within reach that will benefit both sides."

For more background on this parting shot across Frances bow by the Bush administration, read my articles:

Can Roquefort Survive a 300% Tariff? and Response to the 300% Tariff on Roquefort.