EU omits ag in trade talks with the U.S.

May 27, 2019

The EU is ready for negotiations on industrial tariffs, its top trade official said

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Agriculture won’t be part of any trade discussions between the U.S. and the European Union, Europe’s top trade representative said.

Speaking with reporters in Belgium on Monday, EU Trade Commissioner Cecila Malmstrom said “there is absolutely no possibility to include agriculture in these discussions,” the Associated Press reported.

Phil Hogan, Europe’s agriculture commissioner, agrees.

“Agriculture should be excluded from negotiations with the United States,” he told Reuters during the G20 in Japan.

The EU is prepared to start negotiations on industrial tariffs, but the U.S. “seem not to be, yet. We have conflicting mandates there,” Malmstrom told the Associated Press.

This latest round of rejection comes after the EU formally voted to exclude ag from trade talks with the U.S. last month.

It’s also the latest move in the chess match between the two potential trading partners.

Bilateral discussions date back to July 2018 when President Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker agreed to form a working group to reduce trade barriers.

In January 2019, the EU announced an agreement that will allow U.S. soybeans to be used in biofuel production. The deal is in place until at least July 1, 2021.

Then in February, French President Emmanuel Macron said he wouldn’t support trade negotiations with the U.S. that included ag because the EU holds its farmers to standards which U.S. producers don’t meet.

U.S. President Trump has threatened the EU with tariffs if American farm products aren’t part of trade talks.

Farms.com has reached out to U.S. farmers and ag organizations for comment.

Video: Women in Ag. The Promotion of Female Farmers through Social Media | Madalyn Thayer | TEDxBGSU

Less than 1% of Americans are farmers. The majority of those farmers are men. Many people have minimal experience with farms and agriculture. High schools are getting rid of their FFA programs and many colleges, including BGSU, do not have agricultural programs or classes. There is a new social media phenomenon where women are making content based on their farming endeavors and gaining lots of traction. Education is the one of the most important parts of agriculture, because the more people know the more they will emphasize with farmers and create policy that benefits everybody. Female farmers have taken to social media sharing their experience in the agricultural world. These women are breaking stereotypes and educating everyday citizens about farming which is extremely important for the future of agriculture. Madalyn is 19 years old and will be gradated with her bachelors degree in communication on December 2024. She lives on a farm and have spent lots of time working in agriculture. She has her own farmers market and love learning about all subjects, especially agriculture. She was on the BGSU Firelands Student government from 2021-2023 as a CCP Ambassador and was awarded the 3&1 communication excellency award in April of 2024. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.