World Trade Organization Dispute
Background and Perspectives
In May 2003, the United States, Canada, and Argentina announced their intent to challenge in the World Trade Organization (WTO) the European Union’s (EU) de facto moratorium (since 1998) on approving new agricultural biotechnology products. U.S. agricultural interests contended that these policies not only blocked their exports to the EU, their fourth-largest foreign market, but also fueled unwarranted concerns about the safety of agricultural biotechnology throughout the world. EU officials said they moved as quickly as possible to reinstate biotechnology approvals, while trying to reassure their consumers regarding safety issues. The EU effectively ended its moratorium with its May 2004…
