Mr. Gerard Monks:

With regard to the US trade agreement, there was at the very outset a deep understanding regarding the direction the Ministers gave to the Commissioner that there be no weakening of existing EU standards, including food, labour and environmental standards. The trade agreement with Canada has a couple of benefits for us because we will be able to export beef there, and the European Union has one extra access point for cheese. It is not that trade agreements deliver a one-way competitive advantage for one party because there is a mix. The access the Canadians will have to the EU agriculture and food market will be phased over time. Right now, the European Union is negotiating what the phasing will be and the extent to which it will be delivered to the Canadians. It is a two-way street where both parties benefit. No meat that has been hormone treated will be allowed in. The Canadians do not have a history of rearing beef that is hormone free so they will have to set up a new production process to meet EU expectations and standards on food quality.