United States pork producers are watching the trade battle with the European Union, but are more focused on trade with the United Kingdom. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office is placing punitive tariffs on $7.5 billion of European goods later this month, including pork. However, Nebraska Pork Producers Association Executive Director Al Juhnke isn’t too concerned about any retaliation against U.S. pork by the E.U. because they don’t buy a lot of frozen or boxed pork. Besides he says the U.K. is a bigger player.

He says if the U.S. can get a trade agreement with the United Kingdom it might prod the E.U. to move ahead with a trade pact with the U.S that actually includes agriculture.

Juhnke says while the U.S. would like a trade deal with the E.U. , they’ve been tough to deal with especially on agriculture.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office says the tariff on E.U. pork will be 25 percent and will begin on October 18.