There is strong farmer opposition in Europe to a free trade
deal with the United States, leading to speculation the negotiations will fail.
Farmers say a deal would sell out European
restrictions on products such as meat from animals raised using hormones or
beta-agonists.
The EU restrictions have significantly
limited the ability of most U.S. meat and poultry producers and processors to
sell their products in Europe, while also protecting that industry in Europe,
although its costs of production are high relative to global benchmarks.
Canada has negotiated a deal, but
Canadian meat packers are finding that challenges remain, including European
food-safety protocol approvals for packing plants.
But the European deal is far from the
only challenge facing American farmers who want improved access to markets.
All of the leading candidates to become
president have declared their opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade
deal.
