Deal to allow more US beef exports to EU

The U.S. and EU on Friday signed a deal that will allow U.S. beef exports to nearly triple to the EU over the next seven years, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced.

Annual duty-free exports are expected to grow from $150 million to $420 million when the agreement is fully implemented, USTR said.

The agreement establishes a duty-free tariff-rate quota exclusively for the U.S. totaling 18,500 metric tons annually and valued at approximately $220 million. The quota will grow to 35,000 metric tons annually over seven years and will be valued at approximately $420 million.

U.S. meat exports to Europe are expected to increase by 90% over the next seven years, President Donald Trump said in prepared remarks he delivered during a speech Friday.

Currently, U.S. duty-free beef exports to the EU are approximately 13,000 metric tons yearly and valued at about $150 million, USTR said.

The new agreement will take effect upon the approval of European Parliament, expected this fall. The U.S. also has closed its trade remedy proceedings under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 initiated in December 2016, USTR said.

“Today is about delivering real, positive, tangible results in the transatlantic trade relationship,” said Jani Raappana, deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Finland in Washington, D.C., representing the presidency of the EU. “Our companies, our farmers make more money investing, trading with each other than we do with anyone else in the world.”

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Fraud & Security

Freight Fraud Symposium

Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.

May 20, 2026
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH
Register Now
AI & Technology

Supply Chain AI Symposium

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

July 15, 2026
The Old Post Office • Chicago, IL
Register Now
Rail & Policy

Future of Rail Symposium

Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.

July 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Fraud & Security Freight Fraud Symposium May 20 • Cleveland, OH

Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH Register Now
AI & Technology Supply Chain AI Symposium Jul 15 • Chicago, IL

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

The Old Post Office • Chicago, IL Register Now
Rail & Policy Future of Rail Symposium Jul 28 • Chattanooga, TN

Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Brian Bradley

Based in Washington, D.C., Brian covers international trade policy for American Shipper and FreightWaves. In the past, he covered nuclear defense, environmental cleanup, crime, sports, and trade at various industry and local publications.