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Roquefort producers to get help - French government agrees to promote Roquefort cheese - Brief Article

French farmers' leader Jose Bove said on 16 August the French government had agreed to promote Roquefort cheese in an effort to help producers hit by US sanctions in a transatlantic trade dispute over hormone-treated beef.

Bove, spokesman for la Confederation paysanne, the French small farmer's union, said his group had held talks with the French agriculture ministry and reached a basic agreement over compensation for Roquefort, albeit in an indirect way.

"This support will take the form of promoting these products, which were taken hostage, Roquefort in particular," Bove said. Farmers can expect to receive some type of government relief by 1 November, he said. Roquefort producers are said to have lost some 4.7m [European dollar] over the past two years.

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Roquefort cheese was among European products hit with punitive 100% duties in 1999 when the US imposed US$ 117m (127.6m [European dollar]) of sanctions on European foods in retaliation for the EU's failure to lift a ban on hormone-treated beef. Other products affected included foie gras, truffles, shallots and tomatoes.

US -- THIRD LARGEST MARKET FOR ROQUEFORT

Before the trade war began, the US was the third biggest foreign market for Roquefort cheese after Germany and Spain, with 460 tonnes sold there annually. In 2000 shipments had dropped to 400t. Roquefort executives claim it will take years to recapture the lost market share even if the sanctions are lifted.

Eric Boutry, president of the Roquefort Cheese Association, said that the situation made no sense. "This free trade thing is crazy. How can we say we want free trade and this is the main purpose of the World Trade Organisation, and put tariffs on products with no subsidies? For us it is unbelievable," he said.

PRODUCERS PROTEST AT DISCOUNT PRICING

Meanwhile, around thirty sheep's milk producers swept into the Super-U hypermarket in Castres (Tarn) earlier this month to put a stop to a promotion which was offering Roquefort cheese at "discount" prices. The producer ripped up leaflets promoting Roquefort for 9.13 [European dollar]/and ordered the supermarket boss to revert to selling the cheese at 12.18 [European dollar].

Food & Beverage Industry

Roquefort producers to get help - French government agrees to promote Roquefort cheese - Brief Article

Eurofood, August 30, 2001

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