| 8/6/2003 Biotech Suit Against EU Won't be Dropped, US Says - 8/5 Reuters "I see the case moving forward," said Allen Johnson, chief agriculture negotiator for the U.S. trade representative. In May, the United States announced it was filing suit at the WTO against the European Union's 5-year-old moratorium on approvals of new genetically modified goods. Last month, EU farm ministers gave formal approval for labeling of biotech food and animal feed, taking an important step toward lifting the moratorium. Since then, EU officials have argued the WTO biotech complaint brought by the Bush administration should be dropped. Johnson, in remarks to reporters, said the United States would continue pursuing the matter. "We haven't seen (biotech product) approvals moving forward. We haven't seen the member states that are the ones blocking it move forward. The basis for the case is sound," Johnson said. As for the labeling regime, as well as standards the EU is expected to impose to trace biotech food and feed back to the farm, Johnson noted strong concerns in the United States. He said it was too early to say whether the labeling and traceability standards might also be challenged at the WTO. The United States opposes any mandatory labeling of biotech foods, saying it should be done on a voluntary basis. American corn farmers complain they are losing $300 million in lost exports to the EU because their biotech crop has not been approved for use in Europe. Copyright 2003, Reuters News Service Related Link: http://www.reuters.com |
This
website is best viewed in Internet
Explorer or
Netscape Navigator versions
4.0 and
above. All content contained herein is subject to copyright law.
Click here to unsubscribe
above. All content contained herein is subject to copyright law.
Click here to unsubscribe