European Union-USA Beef Quota.

EUROPEAN UNION- INCREASE IN US BEEF QUOTA.

The European Commission is offering to double the preferential quota for beef imports from the United States in an effort to end a decades-old dispute over beef trade, EU sources familiar with the plan told Reuters.

The sources said the bloc is offering to double its quota from the current 11,500 metric tons, an amount the Unites States shares with Canada, in exchange for the elimination of about $116 million worth of U.S. sanctions against EU products. However, the plan reportedly does not include an end to the EU’s ban on beef treated with hormones.

European Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton was scheduled to discuss the proposal with counterparts in Washington this week, according to Reuters.

Late last week, Washington decided to delay by 30 days the imposition of additional duties on EU products as negotiations continue.

The EU bought a total of 20,660 metric tons of U.S. beef in 2008 valued at $99.7 million, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Currently, the EU imposes a reduced tariff of 20 percent on the value of the first 11,500 metric tons of beef that the United States and Canada ship into Europe. For any amount of beef above that, they must pay a combined tariff of 12.8 percent duty and 3,000 euros (US$3,877) per ton.

Although the "buy local" movement has received plenty of media attention, most U.S. consumers are not actually buying local products, according to a survey from research firm Mintel.

The survey found that just 17 percent of adults buy local products and services as often as possible. These "True Locals," as Mintel dubs them, are willing to pay a higher price, and they’ll even buy local if competitive products are better.

But the overwhelming majority of American shoppers don’t feel so strongly. Mintel identified 30 percent of survey respondents as "Aspirational Locals" who say they would purchase local goods and services but don’t know where to find them. Twenty-seven percent of adults are "No Locals," not caring where their food and services come from.

Mintel’s survey found that people who purchase local goods most frequently purchase food. Although local fruits and vegetables are most popular, approximately one in four shoppers buy local baked goods, meats or cheese/dairy products once a week or more.