USA threatens to retaliateagainst EU barley imports

28 May 1998

USA threatens to retaliate
against EU barley imports

THE USA said it would retaliate against subsidised barley imports from the European Union (EU) due to enter the country tomorrow (Friday).

It threatened to provide subsidies for American barley sales to Algeria, Cyprus and Norway.

Protesting farmers are expected to meet the EU shipment of Finnish grain to Penny Newman of the USA at the Port of Stockton, California.

They fear more shipments of subsidised grain will follow and claim the first 30,000 tonnes has further depressed prices that are already low. But the European Commission said the farmers claim bordered “on the ridiculous”.

• Financial Times 28/05/98 page 4