Brazil believes US extending fresh beef ban as retaliation for ethanol quotas

In Brazil, Bloomberg reports that Brazil believes the US continues to ban fresh beef imports from the country is retaliation for Brazil’s tightening of ethanol duties and quotas from US producers although a USDA spokeswoman denied the suggestion and said the ban is completely related to food safety and animal health issues. People aware of the negotiations who spoke to Bloomberg said the US agriculture secretary specifically in August called out the continued fresh beef ban as retaliation for not lifting the ethanol quotas as discussed between the US and Brazilian presidents.