Category: World Trade Organization
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EU Settles WTO Dispute with Argentina over Biotech Agriculture
The European Union (EU) and Argentina have apparently reached an agreement in a dispute before the World Trade Organization (WTO) involving genetically engineered products and the application of biotechnology to agriculture. The agreement, which provides for the establishment of a regular dialogue on these issues, follows a similar agreement the EU struck with Canada, which,…
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Federal Court Denies Request for Delay of COOL Implementation
A federal court in Washington has reportedly denied a feedlot company’s request to invalidate or delay implementation of the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) regulations adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2008. Easterday Ranches, Inc. v. USDA, No. __ (E.D. Wash., decided February 5, 2010). According to news sources, the company argued that the COOL…
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American Meat Institute Deems Mandatory COOL a Violation of Trade Obligations
The American Meat Institute (AMI) has apparently submitted comments to the Office of U.S. Trade Representative contending that country of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements violate U.S. international trade obligations. According to AMI, the nation’s “credibility is undermined when U.S. legislation violates America’s commitments” under international agreements. AMI claims that the COOL requirements “are not consistent with…
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EU Signs Deal on Banana Imports, Ending Long-Running Trade Dispute
EU ambassadors this week signed an agreement with Latin American and U.S. officials to end “a 15-year dispute over EU banana imports,” according to a December 15, 2009, press release, which described the impasse as “the longest trade dispute in history.” The European Union has apparently agreed to “gradually cut its import tariff on bananas…
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WTO Judges Agree to Consider COOL Dispute
As anticipated, Canada reportedly renewed its request that the World Trade Organization (WTO) establish a panel to resolve a dispute over U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements. The request was accepted, and the panel is expected to issue its report sometime in the second half of 2010, according to a news source. The WTO can authorize those…
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EU Rebuffs United States in WTO Poultry Dispute
The European Union has reportedly blocked a U.S. request that the World Trade Organization (WTO) settle a dispute over a ban on American poultry imports. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative apparently asked for the ruling after industry groups criticized the scientific evidence behind an EU regulation prohibiting the pathogen-reduction treatments used in U.S.…
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World Trade Organization COOL Initiative Blocked
The United States has reportedly blocked Canadian and Mexican efforts to convene a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel that would determine whether the new U.S. country-of-origin (COOL) labeling requirements for meat products are fair. Under WTO procedures, a country can block the creation of a dispute settlement panel once. If, as expected, Canada and Mexico…
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Mexico Turns to WTO in Challenge to COOL Regulations
Shortly after Canada filed its challenge to U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements, Mexico apparently followed suit, asking the World Trade Organization (WTO) to establish a panel to undertake a dispute settlement process. Mexico’s agricultural authority reportedly contends that the rules may unfairly discriminate against the country’s meat industry by requiring U.S. meat processors to segregate…