EU May Ban U.S. Dairy Imports
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Some well-known brands of American ice cream may be banned in Europe on New Year’s Day because of a wrangling over trade rules.
Officials said that nearly 200 U.S. dairy firms may be barred from exporting to the European Union’s 15 nations. U.S. dairy exports to the region this year were worth nearly $30 million.
Among the companies that could be hurt are ice cream makers Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. and Haagen-Dazs, U.S. officials said. Other affected firms include yogurt and cheese exporters and makers of food additives derived from milk.
Officials from both sides were hopeful of an early resolution.
At issue is a new system that requires Washington to submit a list of certified dairy plants that comply with European food-safety regulations.
U.S. agriculture and trade officials compiled the list and submitted the necessary letter of guarantee by mid-December. However, the EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, questioned the letter’s wording, preventing formal approval of the list by the New Year’s Eve deadline.
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