American bison meat gets a lower input rate in the EU, but who eats it?

American bison meat gets a lower input rate in the EU, but who eats it?

The European Union and the United States Have Agreed to Open the European Market to American Bison Meat. US President Donald Trump Aims to Serve His agricultural support base this way. But Who is Waiting for a piece or Bison Meat Here?

The Netherlands is the Largest European Buyer of Canadian Bison Meat, But Most of the Meat is Shiped Directly to Other Countries via The Port of Rotterdam. Only a few butchers in The Netherlands Sell Bison Meat.

Lejean and the Butchery Are Two of Those Butchers. They Sell Ribeyes, Tournedos, and Ground Bison Meat, Among Other Things, which is shot in the wild.

Accordance to the owners, the meat is lean and full of protein and iron. It is Therefore as special popular with athletes. “It is for people who want to eat healthy and get protein,” explains bert-jan lantinga of the butchery.

“The Sale of Bison Meat is Infancy here,” Says Lantinga. “Dutch People Mainly Eat Chicken, Pork, And Beef.” Lejean Owner Pieter van Rijn Estimates That Bison Meat Accounts for 1 percent of his turnover.

Bison Meat is Unknown

Lantinga would not know why he would switch to American Bison Meat because the Canadian Quality is excellent. Accordance to van Rijn, The Animals Are Similar Since Many Bison Come from the Border Area Between the Two Countries. However, he is Considering Purchasing the Meat from the US If there is a more favorable import policy. “It may save a little in price.”

Due to the Ceta Trade Agreement, European Importers of the Meat Do Not Have To Pay Import Duties to Canada. European Buyers Have To Pay 12.8 percent Duty for American Bison Meat, plus an Amount per unit of Weight. Soon that will be 0 percent for the first 3000 tons of import. After that, The Current Import Tariff Applies.

“I don’t believe that all of Europe will switch to Bison because of this,” Says van Rijn. “Due to the price and because Bison Meat is not very well known.” 300 grams of Ground Bison Meat Costs More than 10 euros at the Butcher. And at the butchery you pay about 25 euros for a ribeye or 250 grams.

The Question is Whether American Farmers Benefit from the Trade Agreement. The Central Organization for the Meat Sector Estimates That Bison Sales Will Not Be Large in Our Country. “Bison Meat is an incredible niche product.”

No Bison on the Menu Yet

Professor of International Economics Steven Brakman Says from New York That The Meat is not in the supermarket there. “Maybe it’s something for specialty stores.”

Royal Dutch butchers (Royal Dutch Butchers) does not immediately respond to it. “Artisanal Butchers Generally opt for short-chain products,” Says a Spokesperson for the Butchers “Association. “I Don’t Expect Them to get Their Meat from Across The Ocean.”

Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (Royal Dutch Hospitality) does not know of any Dutch restaurant that serves bison meat. “Whether Bison Meat gets a place on the menu ultimately Depends on the demand from the guest and the entrepreneurs Themselves.”

Symbolic Policy of Trump

The Fact That Bison Meat Has Been Added To The List Of Food Products for which New Trade Rules Will Apply is a Wish of Trump. For the president, Bison Meat Has Primarily Symbolic Value, Explains Ing Researcher Thijs Geijer.

“The Bison is an American cultural product that we don’t have in Europe,” Says Geijer. “Access to the European Sales Market is Quite Difficult for American Food Producers. Trump Wants To Show with This Agreement That He Takes Into Account the Wishes of the Agricultural Sector.”

The European Union Probably won Notice Much. “The import of Bison Meat is not so disruptive for European producers.” The Bill Still has to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council Before the New Rules Apply.

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