The United States requests an arbitration committee
The debate on the import ban of genetically modified foodstuffs continues. Supported by Canada and Argentina, the United States Government has requested that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) set up an arbitration committee, as indicated by a United States spokesperson to the WTO in Geneva. The United States Government regards its corn, cotton and soya exports as been unjustly impeded by the EU ban. At the beginning of June, the EU agreed explicit identification rules for genetically modified foodstuffs, rules that were a condition for the lifting of the ban. As these rules also affect imported foodstuffs, Washington continues to feel discriminated against. This new step by the United States is one more in the WTO’s long process, which in the end could impose heavy sanctions. The process before the arbitration committee, which must investigate the EU’s procedures with regards to genetically modified foodstuffs, will have an average duration of one year.