Nostalgia-rich foods at risk

A sudden price hike for vacuum-packed Irish bacon and sausages may be the harbinger of a transatlantic trade war. The irony of a fallout involving foods which have contributed to good relations and acted as a sumptuous reminder of home for Irish exiles will not escape frequent fliers to the United States.

Pork products figure prominently in the US government's blacklist of foreign goods facing heavy tariffs if the controversy over hormone-treated beef is not resolved.

Early warning came in March when the US published a preliminary list of mainly agricultural products which could be subjected to 100 per cent tariffs. Included are beef (we export no beef to the US), pork, poultry, cheese and truffles, not forgetting motorcycles, hair clippers and cashmere sweaters. A broad range of drinks is also listed.

The implications for Irish trade are £10 million a year, of which £5 million is pig-meat, £2.2 million is confectionery and £1 million is oatmeal/oat products, says Bord Bia. We exported £97 million in food and drink to the US in the first nine months of 1998. Any escalation would hurt many Irish companies.

The US trade representative's office had a hearing last month at which affected companies could make a case for their products to be exempted. Irish exporters such as Dairygold (whose products include Galtee Meats), and Odlums were present. A final list of products to be subjected to "suspension of concessions" is imminent. May 13th is the deadline by which the EU has to signal a climb-down if it is to avoid a food war.

With the US Agriculture Secretary, Mr Dan Glickman, and the acting EU Agriculture Commissioner, Mr Franz Fischler, sharing the stage in Dublin for the World Meat Congress a few days later, an intriguing showdown is on the horizon.