Rising meat prices from customs conflict: EU and the USA in the trade dispute!

Rising meat prices from customs conflict: EU and the USA in the trade dispute!

USA - The trade conflict between the EU and the USA is picking up speed again and could have a significant impact on food prices in Europe. The background is the new tariffs on aluminum and steel products that were put into force on Friday night by US President Trump. These tariffs also affect the German market and could drastically raise the prices for meat. According to Hermann-Josef Baaken, Managing Director of the German Association of Tergenfäu, it is conceivable that meat prices will increase significantly due to increased procurement costs for soy because the USA is the largest soybean supplier for Europe. Soy meal, an important feed, is of central importance for animal production in Germany, and the tariffs on soy could have a devastating effect on the costs of the animal owners, as the Handelsblatt reported.

counter -tariffs of the EU on the march

In response to the US tariffs, the EU Commission has already announced counter-tariffs. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that one was "well prepared" and "will react cleverly". Customs products such as whiskey, jeans and motorcycles that are to come into force from April are planned. In addition, further tariffs could follow agricultural products, including soy products, which should further tighten the consequences for consumers. "How high price increases could not be estimated at the moment," said Steffen Reiter, General Manager of the Association of Meat Management in Germany.

The tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminum imports implemented by the Trump administration represent an unprecedented challenge for the European economy. The EU wants to ensure that the negative effects of these trade measures on consumers and industry in Europe remain as low as possible. In this context, the new tariffs not only refer to US imports, but also to national products, which sparked a broader debate about the reliability of the USA as a trading partner. These developments are of great importance because they could fundamentally change the trade structure between Europe and the USA, as the ZDF reported.