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U.S. SEEKS SANCTIONS AGAINST EU FOOD IMPORTS

WASHINGTON (FNS) -- The United States, as early as this week, could impose 100% import duties on $202 million worth of European food products in retaliation for the European Union's refusal to permit the importation of American beef treated with hormones.se and the timing of it will determine the next move on sanctions. The United States would need to select products to be targeted from a preliminary

WASHINGTON (FNS) -- The United States, as early as this week, could impose 100% import duties on $202 million worth of European food products in retaliation for the European Union's refusal to permit the importation of American beef treated with hormones.

se and the timing of it will determine the next move on sanctions. The United States would need to select products to be targeted from a preliminary list of $900 million worth of European exports.

Immediate approval by the WTO could mean potential imposition of sanctions this week.

Although it is not known which European exports the United States will target, the preliminary list is comprised almost entirely of food products shipped here by EU member nations.

It includes canned and processed beef, pork and poultry, chocolates, Roquefort cheese, various tomato products, onions, spices, truffles, chestnuts, mineral water and chewing gum.

Many of these products typically are found in stores' gourmet-food and produce sections. Imposition of 100% import duties likely would double their retail price -- effectively making it prohibitively expensive for retailers to sell these foods.

The Food Marketing Institute has protested vociferously against such retaliation, asserting that food products are being unfairly singled out to bear the brunt of the U.S. sanctions.