WTO Hearing On EU's US Beef Ban Begins

The US and Canada won both their cases on the grounds that EU scientific data used for the hormone ban were not sufficient and the EU was forced to rescind the ban. Though the EU says it amended its directives in 2003 and notified the WTO it had complied with the ruling, the US and Canada disagreed. In 1999, the WTO ruled the US and Canada could fine the EU (according to a 1997 ruling) for not abiding by world trade rules. The US and Canada have since imposed trade restrictions on the EU as retaliation for the hormone ban. The EU has had to pay USD 116.8 million (€94.75 million) and CAD 11.3 million (€7.75 million) in duties as a result. This week’s hearings will see the EU seek a reversal of those duties and the end to trade restrictions because of claims that it abided by the WTO’s 1997 rulings. To date, the EU imports roughly 1,100 tonnes of high quality beef from the US and Canada annually as part of the "Hilton quota" for use in hotels and top restaurants. http://euobserver.com/9/19844

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