United States, Argentina consult on WTO biotech case versus E.U.

14 March 2003
By Reuters / ENN

WASHINGTON — Top U.S. and Argentine trade officials said Thursday they held talks on the possibility of taking joint legal action against the European Union for blocking imports of genetically modified food. 
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Peter Allgeier and Argentine Vice Minister of Foreign Relations Martin Redrado said the two countries shared a strong interest in making sure world markets remain open to the new biotech food products.

"We have consulted on what is the best way for us and other like-minded countries to move this issue forward to a satisfactory resolution," Allgeier told reporters. "We're not in a position today to make an announcement about specific measures in the WTO, but we both look at this matter in a similar light."

The Bush administration has been under pressure from U.S. farm groups and members of Congress to launch a World Trade Organization case against the E.U. for its four-year moratorium on approvals of imports of new biotech food and pharmaceutical products. U.S. farmers estimated they have lost about $300 million in annual lost sales because of the ban.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick told the Senate Finance Committee this month that he wanted to forge an international coalition against the E.U. moratorium, rather than have the United States bring a case on its own.

The E.U. moratorium is driven by consumer concerns about the safety of the products, after a string of food scares in Europe that include mad cow disease and contaminated animal feed.

The United States says the crops are safe and have the potential to reduce world hunger and help the environment by boosting crop yields and reducing pesticide use.

Redrado said the issue was important for Argentina because 95 percent of its soybean product exports and 25 percent of its cotton exports are genetically modified.

"We see this as a critical issue, and we are looking for the development of these products in a safer environment and we share those goals with the U.S." Redrado said.

Source: Reuters