The US imports very low cost and inferior honeys, often for use in 
the bakery trade. Costs drive everything. The pursuit of lower costs 
is what drives the problem with tainted Chinese honey in the cycle 
here. We export, presumably, a higher valued honey. It's all about 
the dollar, I suppose. We sell the good stuff and get the bad stuff 
with the added bonus of Chloramphicol or Cipro... but hey, it's been 
microfiltered!!!!

But free trade, that you call "unnecessary" or in fact, any trade, is 
based solely on the economic benefits, and not on whether it is in 
the interest of bees, or anyone, or anything else.

You're linking trade to the incidence of AFB doesn't seem to follow, 
however, as honey exported (if allowed by the importing country) 
should only be used for human consumption.

Me? I'm organic as far as practices goes, certified CNG 
(naturallygrown.org) and wish there were no traces of junk in the 
foundation. Right now, I'm get US$12 per pound, over the table at 
farmers markets, and everyone reminds me it is a superior honey.

>Why do US beekeepers want to export to EU when US is a net importer?
>
>Is unnecessary free trade in the interests of bees?  Cannot we 
>recognise that international trade has been responsible for spread 
>of diseases?

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