US 'Got Milk', But Where's the Funding From? Asks EU

WASHINGTON, D.C., US - US proposals to fund well known proframmes such as the 'Got Milk' campaign by taxing imported dairy products have been strongly critised by the European Commisioner in the United Sates.
calendar icon 17 March 2008
clock icon 2 minute read


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"The U.S. cannot just turn around now and ask European and other non-American dairy producers to support America's domestic industry when there is very limited access"
John Button

John Button said, "It is simply not fair to tax European producers to fund a program that boosts domestic consumption in the U.S. Of course, we've 'Got Milk' in Europe, but it's not feasible to trade it across the Atlantic. And we've got cheese, too - some of the best in the world - but U.S. imports are limited through quotas, so that any expansion of the American market won't benefit European producers."

As it stands now, imposing the assessment would be a clear violation of World Trade Organization rules on equal treatment of agricultural products because states and territories outside the continental U.S. are exempted. Even if those areas were brought into the program, a new fee on imports would still be discriminatory because the programs funded benefit only American producers.

"Since its inception in 1983, the 'checkoff program' has always been intended to support the marketing of American milk and dairy products." said John Button. "The U.S. cannot just turn around now and ask European and other non-American dairy producers to support America's domestic industry when there is very limited access to the U.S. domestic market or, as with milk, effectively no access at all.

"I hope the Farm Bill negotiators in Congress follow the lead of the Senate and take care of this matter in the coming months."

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