Response to 300% Tariff on Roquefort
One Month Reprieve – Can the Obama Administration Avert a Trade War?
Mar 31, 2009
The U.S. originally put a 100% tariff on Roquefort, among a handful of other products, in 1999. The tariffs were authorized by the World Trade Organization (WTO), who judged that the EU had no scientific basis for their ban on American beef that is injected with growth hormones. More details here.
French Attack a McDonalds in Response
The 1999 tariff so outraged the French that José Bové, a farmer, Roquefort producer and anti-globalization crusader led some 300 furious sheep farmers to demolish the McDonald's restaurant in their town. Bové was briefly imprisoned but later pardoned from President Jacques Chirac.
Bové called the latest 300% hike in the Roquefort duties "scandalous," but has declined calling for another attack on McDonald’s. Instead, he has invited the outlet he trashed ten years ago to "shut symbolically for a short time out of solidarity with us".
Retaliation Against Coca Cola?
"Roquefort is a French symbol and we're paying for its fame," said Robert Glandieres, president of the union of Roquefort producers.
"Symbol versus symbol," said Philippe Folliot, a member of French parliament whose constituents include many Roquefort producers. "Since the United States has decided to surtax one of the most ancient (cheese) appellations, I think that the French government, with the European Union, must think about a heavy specific tax on imports of Coca-Cola concentrates produced in the US."
Obama Administration Delays Tariffs Temporarily
The latest round of tariffs was scheduled to take effect on March 23, 2009. Recent progress in talks between the EU and the current administration have resulted in a one month’s delay, until April 23rd. Spokesperson Nefeterius McPherson said, "The USTR has decided to delay the trade action…to give this process every possibility of success."
Life Without Roquefort?
Murrays’s and others have stocked up, but say they’ll stop carrying Roquefort when they run out, perhaps as early as June. Trader Joe’s has announced it will discontinue it. Whole Foods says Roquefort will be available only by special order. See Jill Erber, owner of Cheesetique in Alexandria, Virginia on a video interview talking about her protest: selling Roquefort at cost as long as she can get it.
What Can You Do?
That depends on who you are.
What if you’re one of the 600 residents of Roquefort sur Soulzon, or the 4,500 people who herd special ewes in the harsh terrain of 2,100 farms, all of whose livelihood entirely depend on Roquefort? One producer, Gabriel Coulet plans to produce Brebis Blue -- tentatively based on Roquefort recipes and, like the original, made with raw sheep's milk -- for U.S. customers. Without a Roquefort label, the duties plummet to 15%.
If you’re American:
- Email your representatives or the president.
- Stock up. Buy now before current supplies run out.
- Find alternatives. Here is a list describing ten other blue-veined cheeses from France, and three others worth trying from Spain, Argentina and Tasmania.
- Buy American. "Rogue River Blue from Oregon is an incredible blue,” says Chester Hastings of Joan’s on Third in Los Angeles. Here are eleven USA blues that are worth your attention:
- Rogue River Blue - Oregon
- Maytag Blue - Iowa
- Pt. Reyes - California
- St. Pete’s Select – Minnesota
- Atlanta Crumbly Blue – Wisconsin
- Black River Blue - Wisconsin
- Buttermilk Blue - Wisconsin
- Mindoro Blue - Wisconsin
- Bayley Hazen Blue - Vermont
- Great Hill Blue – Massachusetts
- Westfield Farms’ Classic Blue Log – Massachusetts
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