P9_TA(2019)0076

EU/USA Agreement on the allocation of a share in the tariff rate quota for imports of high-quality beef (resolution)

European Parliament non-legislative resolution of 28 November 2019 on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the United States of America and the European Union on the Allocation to the United States of a Share in the Tariff Rate Quota for High-Quality Beef referred to in the Revised Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Importation of Beef from Animals Not Treated with Certain Growth-Promoting Hormones and Increased Duties Applied by the United States to Certain Products of the European Union (2014) (10681/2019 — C9-0107/2019 — 2019/0142M(NLE))

(2021/C 232/26)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the draft Council decision (10681/2019),

— having regard to the draft Agreement between the United States of America and the European Union on the Allocation to the United States of a Share in the Tariff Rate Quota for High-Quality Beef referred to in the Revised Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Importation of Beef from Animals Not Treated with Certain Growth-Promoting Hormones and Increased Duties Applied by the United States to Certain Products of the European Union (2014) (10678/2019),

— having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 207(4), first subparagraph, and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C9-0107/2019),

— having regard to its resolutions of 12 September 2018 on the state of EU-US relations (1), of 3 July 2018 on climate diplomacy (2) and of 14 March 2019 on climate change — a European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy in accordance with the Paris Agreement (3),

— having regard to the Joint US-EU Statement of 25 July 2018 following President Juncker’s visit to the White House (Joint Statement) (4),

— having regard to the Progress Report on the Implementation of the EU-US Joint Statement of 25 July 2018 (5),

— having regard to its legislative resolution of 28 November 2019 (6) on the draft decision,

— having regard to Rule 105(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade (A9-0037/2019),

A. whereas the EU and the US have the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship, enjoy the most integrated economic relationship in the world, and share important values and political and economic interests, despite the current trade tensions;

B. whereas in 2009, the EU and the US concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU, revised in 2014 (7)) providing for an interim solution to a longstanding dispute in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regarding measures imposed by the EU in 1989 on US exports of meat containing artificial beef growth hormones (8); whereas the MoU established a 45 000-tonne tariff rate quota (TRQ) on non-hormone-treated beef open to all qualifying suppliers in WTO member states;

C. whereas in 2019, the Commission negotiated a new allocation of the TRQ with the US (35 000 tonnes to the US of the overall 45 000 tonnes), with the other suppliers (Australia, Uruguay and Argentina) agreeing to share the remaining part of the quota;

D. whereas this agreement is to be seen in the light of the de-escalation of the trade tensions between the EU and the US agreed in the Joint US-EU Statement of 25 July 2018;

E. whereas the US, invoking national security concerns, imposed in March 2018 additional tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium, and is threatening to apply similar tariffs against the imports of motor vehicles and automotive parts from the EU (under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962);

F. whereas the EU is challenging, at the WTO, the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on Spanish olives by the US (9);

G. whereas the US imposed on 18 October 2019, based on the WTO arbitration decision circulated on 2 October 2019 (10), in retaliation for illegal EU subsidies granted to the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, tariffs on USD 7,5 billion worth of EU imports, jeopardizing most of the EU agricultural sectors with tariff of 25 % rather than the industrial one, including aircraft with tariff of 10 %;

H. whereas the European Parliament has repeatedly encouraged the EU to consider ways to further raise the level of ambition of the Paris Agreement and to mainstream climate ambition into all EU policies, including trade policy and urges the Commission to ensure that all trade agreements signed by the EU are fully compatible with the Paris Agreement;

1. Welcomes this agreement with the US on the allocation of a share in the TRQ for high-quality beef as a solution to a longstanding trade dispute, as it sets a positive example of a negotiated solution between the EU and the US;

2. Welcomes and acknowledges the fact that the other members of the WTO that export non-hormone-treated beef to the EU agreed to support this agreement by accepting that the vast majority of the quota would be allocated to the US; acknowledges the fact that, according to the Commission, no compensation has been provided to those WTO members for supporting the agreement;

3. Notes that the agreement does not affect current levels of market access for beef to the EU market and that the overall EU market access quota of non-hormone-treated beef must not be increased; acknowledges that the agreement should not affect the technical characteristics of the quota, as defined in Annex 2 of Regulation (EU) No 481/2012 ( 11 ) , including the quality and traceability of products, in order to guarantee the highest possible level of protection for EU consumers; notes that the agreement does not affect the EU’s ban on imports of beef from animals treated with certain growth hormones;

4. Supports the Commission in its efforts to find a fair and balanced solution in order to dilute current trade tensions, including through this agreement; stresses the importance of finding negotiated solutions; notes that the EU has done everything in its power to ease the current trade tensions; calls on the US to work with the EU in this regard; deplores the formal notification by the US on 4 November 2019 of its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement; recalls that the EU’s Common Commercial Policy must contribute to promote the realisation of the Paris Agreement;

5. Stresses the importance of setting this agreement apart from other ongoing trade negotiations between the US and the EU in which the agricultural sector should not be included;

6. Takes note of the lack of progress with the implementation of the Joint Statement, even though the EU is delivering on the objectives to de-escalate trade tensions, as set out therein;

7. Regrets the fact that the US has so far refused to work with the EU on a fair and balanced solution for our respective aircraft industries in the context of the long-standing Airbus/Boeing dispute, and calls on the US to start negotiations to resolve it; is concerned about the measures taken by the US which affect the European aviation sector and numerous agri-food products; calls on the Commission to put in place support measures for European producers;

8. Calls on the US to revoke its unilateral additional tariffs on steel and aluminium, and olives, and to withdraw its threat to impose additional tariffs on cars and car parts;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, as well as to the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the United States of America.

(1) Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0342.

(2) Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0280.

(3) Texts adopted, P8_TA(2019)0217.

(4) http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-18-4687_en.htm

(5) https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2019/july/tradoc_158272.pdf

(6) Texts adopted, P9_TA(2019)0075.

(7) Revised Memorandum of Understanding with the United States of America Regarding the Importation of Beef from Animals Not Treated with Certain Growth-Promoting Hormones and Increased Duties Applied by the United States to Certain Products of the European Union (OJ L 27, 30.1.2014, p. 2).

(8) Joint communication from the European Union and the United States on measures concerning meat and meat products (hormones) of 17 April 2014 (WT/DS26/29).

(9) Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties on Ripe Olives from Spain: Request for the establishment of a panel by the European Union of 17 May 2019 (WT/DS577/3).

(10) European Communities and Certain Member States — Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft: Recourse to Article 7.9 of the SCM Agreement and Article 22.7 of the DSU by the United States of 4 October 2019 (WT/DS316/42).

(11) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 481/2012 of 7 June 2012 laying down rules for the management of a tariff quota for high-quality beef (OJ L 148, 8.6.2012, p. 9).