I

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3050

To prohibit imports into the United States of meat products from the European Union until certain unfair trade barriers are removed, and for

other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 7, 1996

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota (for himself, Mr. POMEROY, and Mr. ALLARD)

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on

Ways and Means

A BILL

To prohibit imports into the United States of meat products

from the European Union until certain unfair trade barriers are removed, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND POLICY.

4 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following

5 findings:

6 (1) The European Union’s prohibition on the

7 importation into member states of the European

8 Union of meat from animals treated with hormones
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1 and the European Union’s Third Country Meat Di2 rective are nontariff trade barriers.

3 (2) The maintenance of these nontariff barriers

4 is a major impediment to United States meat ex5 ports to the member states of the European Union.

6 (3) United States producers of meat products

7 have been injured by being denied the opportunity to

8 sell their products in the members states of the Eu9 ropean Union.

10 (4) The imposition of these nontariff barriers

11 has had harmful effects on United States commer12 cial interests and has created serious trade disputes

13 between the United States and the European Union.

14 (5) Efforts by the United States Government to

15 negotiate resolutions to these disputes have been un16 successful.

17 (6) In order to prevent further economic injury

18 to the United States meat industry, the United

19 States Government must take stronger action to re20 move the major impediments to United States ex21 ports created by the nontariff trade barriers de22 scribed in paragraph (1).

23 (b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States

24 that—
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1 (1) the European Union’s prohibition on the

2 importation into member states of the European

3 Union of meat from animals treated with hormones

4 and the European Community’s Third Country Meat

5 Directive are nontariff trade barriers; and

6 (2) it is in the public interest to remove these

7 barriers to exports of United States meat products.

8 SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST ENTRY OF EUROPEAN

9 UNION MEAT PRODUCTS.

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after the

11 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall pro12 hibit the entry, or withdrawal from warehouse for con13 sumption, into the customs territory of the United States

14 of all meat products of member states of the European

15 Union.

16 (b) DURATION.—The prohibition imposed under sub17 section (a) shall remain in full force and effect until the

18 Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade

19 Representative—

20 (1) determine that the European Union has re21 moved the prohibition on imports described in sec22 tion 1(b), and that meat products produced in the

23 United States are permitted full and fair access to

24 the markets of the European Union; and
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1 (2) submit to the Congress the determination

2 under paragraph (1), together with the reasons un3 derlying the determination.

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