US trade chief: Beef deal with EU is close, could herald start of end for other disputes

US trade chief: beef deal with EU ‘99 pct there’

GENEVA — A top U.S. trade official says a long-running trade clash between the United States and the European Union over hormone-treated U.S. beef is almost resolved.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Monday a deal was “99 percent there”. The potential agreement could pave the way for an end to other disputes between the world’s two biggest economic powers.

The EU last week agreed to buy more high-value American beef to avoid having classic European products like Italian mineral water and French Roquefort cheese slapped with punitive sanctions by the U.S. Brussels says beef from cattle treated with growth hormones is a health hazard but Washington says the World Trade Organization has repeatedly ruled there is insufficient evidence for the claim.