Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brucssels, are not fit to grace European tables.No, say the American: our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in different way. These days, it is differences in national regulations.far more than tariffs, that put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries. It is not just farmers who are complaining.
An electric razor that meets the European Union's safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United states, and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU's okay before it hits the markets in Europe.
As it happens, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans.So, ask business on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two tests where one would do? Politicians agree, in principle, so America and EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many products.They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May May 28th.Although negotiators are optimistic, the details are complex enough that they be hard-pressed to get a deal at all.
Why? One difficulty is to construct the agreements. The Americans would happily reach one accord on standard for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering,say, electronic goods and drug manufacturing.The EU-following fine continental traditions-wants agreements on gerneral principles. Which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extends to other countries.
An electric razor that meets the European Union's safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United states, and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU's okay before it hits the markets in Europe.
As it happens, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans.So, ask business on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two tests where one would do? Politicians agree, in principle, so America and EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many products.They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May May 28th.Although negotiators are optimistic, the details are complex enough that they be hard-pressed to get a deal at all.
Why? One difficulty is to construct the agreements. The Americans would happily reach one accord on standard for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering,say, electronic goods and drug manufacturing.The EU-following fine continental traditions-wants agreements on gerneral principles. Which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extends to other countries.