U.S. Vows Swift Retaliatory Tariffs on Some European Goods

The United States said Monday it would move quickly to retaliate on $116.8 million worth of European Union food products and other goods after getting the green light from the World Trade Organization in a beef trade dispute.

The action could double U.S. prices for some European food items--such as bottled water, Roquefort cheese and Belgian chocolates--assuming that imports of those or other targeted goods are not stopped dead in their tracks by the pending 100% duties.

Even so, U.S. farm groups were disappointed at the low level of retaliation approved by the WTO.

Washington sought permission to impose $202 million in annual punitive duties on EU goods because of Brussels’ refusal to lift its decade-old ban on beef from cattle raised with artificial growth hormones.

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky pledged to follow through quickly on plans to retaliate.

Despite the low figure, she said the decision shows “the EU must pay a price” for refusing to comply with WTO rules.

EU officials applauded the arbitrator’s ruling and said it showed that the U.S. claims of damage were “extravagant.”

Peter Scher, special U.S. ambassador for agricultural trade, said the United States will probably publish its final retaliation list within 10 days.