www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

A world trade ruling in a high-stakes row between the European Union and the
United States and others over genetically modified crops has been delayed
and is unlikely before February, trade diplomats said, January 2006.

A preliminary decision by a panel of judges appointed by the World Trade
Organization (WTO) had been expected in early January, but reaching a
verdict will take more time, the diplomats said.

"It has been delayed a few weeks. I would not bank on anything before
February," said one trade diplomat involved in the long-running dispute.

The United States, Canada and Argentina brought the case in May 2003,
alleging that a five-year-old EU moratorium on approving imports of
genetically modified (GMO) crops and food stuffs violated global trade
rules.

The moratorium has since been lifted, but Washington and its allies say that
imports are still heavily restricted, with a number of EU states refusing to
accept any.

Europe's shoppers are known for their wariness toward GMO products, with
some opinion polls indicating opposition of slightly over 70 percent.

But the United States, where the foods are far more widely accepted, says
that EU skepticism has no basis in science and amounts to protectionism
costing GMO producers hundreds of millions of dollars in lost sales.

The WTO panel of judges was set up in March 2004, with a ruling initially
due within six months, but the deadlines have been continually extended.

Officially, the WTO judges have announced that a final ruling, which comes
out some weeks after the preliminary finding, has been put back three months
to the end of March, but it is the preliminary verdict that diplomats are
watching, and no dates are officially announced for that.

In the 11-year life of the WTO, a final verdict has never differed from a
preliminary finding

[today.reuters.com]

------------------------------------------
Posted to Phorum via PhorumMail