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- BUSINESS, Page 75Business NotesTRADECooking Up A Beef Deal
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- In keeping with the Lone Star State's reputation for
- independence, a Texan aims to strike a separate peace in the
- beef war between the U.S. and the European Community. Because
- most American feedlot operators hasten cattle growth with
- hormones, the E.C. has banned more than $100 million of U.S.
- meat imports. Washington has retaliated by slapping 100%
- tariffs on $100 million of annual European food imports. But
- last week Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower,
- declaring it was time "to cut the bureaucratic crap," proposed
- a way to provide hormone-free exports to Europe.
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- Critics swiftly broiled Hightower's plan, which calls for
- greater use of natural production systems. Reason: hormone-free
- feeding could add more than 15% to the cost of beef.
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- Nonetheless, the State Department reportedly has been
- cooking up a compromise in which the U.S. would export
- specialty beef products, including tongue and liver, that
- conform to E.C. standards. Secretary of State James Baker may
- offer such terms this week when he makes a diplomatic tour of
- European capitals.
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