GERMANY: Chancellor Angela Merkel says Germany will continue to ban chlorine-washed chicken imports from U.S.

Record ID: 214704

  • Title: GERMANY: Chancellor Angela Merkel says Germany will continue to ban chlorine-washed chicken imports from U.S.
  • Date: 24th May 2014
  • Summary: CUD DEPUTY PARTY LEADER JULIA KLOECKNER AND MERKEL ON STAGE CAMERA OPERATOR ABOVE CROWD MCALLISTER SPEAKING ON STAGE CDU SUPPORTERS APPLAUDING PLACARD IN CROWD READING IN GERMAN "STOP FASCISM IN UKRAINE" MERKEL SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR AND CDU PARTY LEADER, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "A lot of people are saying -- and I see it here too, the issue of TT
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Business,General,Health,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACZYIR2QRWF3MCW17N1XCQXOR6
  • Story Text: Germany's Angela Merkel stressed the importance of Europe striking a free trade deal with the United States on Saturday (May 24), but added she would not allow the import of chlorine-washed chicken - a sticking point in negotiations.
    The United States and European Union are making headway on a free trade pact, but remain at odds over U.S. exports of beef and chicken that fail to meet tough EU safety standards.
    The European Union is closed to U.S. beef from cattle raised with growth hormones and to chlorine-washed chicken, which consumers fear make the food unsafe.
    The United States sees EU food safety rules as veiled protectionism for European farmers and insists any restrictions be based on scientific evidence.
    "There will be no import of chlorine-washed chicken from the United States. I have prevented it for years and will continue to do so. There is no question about that," Merkel said during a European election rally speech in Worms in southern Germany before Sunday's vote.
    Merkel, who grew up in Communist East Germany, also told supporters that they should value "free elections."
    "In Belarus, they are dreaming about free elections. In Ukraine, a lot of people will go to the polls tomorrow full of fear. In Turkey, they are partly shutting down the Internet just like that. In Syria, there is a terrible civil war," Merkel said, adding "it's not self-evident in the world to have free elections."
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