August 2012

Argentina files dispute against US on import restrictions of beef and other meat products

WTO News, 31 August, 2012

On 30 August 2012, Argentina notified the WTO Secretariat of a request for consultations with the United States on measures applied to the imports of Argentinian meat and other products of animal origin. Argentina claims that the restrictions, applied on sanitary grounds, don’t have scientific justification. It also claims that the measures of the United States appear to cancel or impair the benefits for Argentina derived from the relevant WTO Agreements. PANEL ESTABLISHED AT INDIA’S REQUEST ON US STEEL MEASURES At the request of India, the Dispute Settlement Body established today (31 August 2012) a panel to consider the United States imposition of countervailing measures on certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from India. India considers that the measures are inconsistent with the US obligations under several provisions of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and the GATT 1994.More…

Mexico files dispute against Argentina on import restrictions

WTO News, 24 August, 2012

On 24 August 2012, Mexico notified the WTO Secretariat of a request for consultations with Argentina on measures applied by Argentina to the importation of goods. Mexico alleges that these measures “restrict the imports of goods and discriminate between national and imported goods”. Mexico further alleges that these measures “don’t seem to be related with the implementation of any measure justified under the WTO Agreement”. This dispute is similar to those initiated in recent weeks by the European Union, the United States and Japan for the same reason. More…

WTO membership rises to 157 with the entry of Russia and Vanuatu

WTO News, 22 August, 2012

Russia becomes the 156th WTO member. Vanuatu will join the WTO on 24 August as its 157th member. “Once again this year, we welcome two new members in the WTO family. It has been a long journey for both countries and they will undoubtedly strengthen the multilateral trading system”, said WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy. More…

Japan and the United States file separate disputes against Argentina on import licensing

WTO News, 21 August, 2012

On 21 August 2012, Japan and the United States notified separately the WTO Secretariat of a request for consultations with Argentina on alleged import restrictions caused by a system of non-automatic import licensing and other related measures. According to both Japan and the United States, “these measures restrict imports of goods and discriminate between imported and domestic goods”. The measures, according to both complainants, “do not appear to be related to the implementation of any measure justified under the WTO Agreement”. More…

Argentina files dispute against the EU on biodiesel imports

WTO News, 17 August, 2012

On 17 August 2012, Argentina notified the WTO Secretariat of a request for consultations with the European Union on Spanish restrictions to the imports of biodiesel from Argentina. Argentina claims that Spain put in place a regulation in April that in effect discriminates against biodiesel imports from Argentina in favour of those produced in the European Union.More…

Japan withdraws its sanction request against the US in zeroing case

WTO News, August, 2012

Japan initiated a sanction procedure in 2008 on the grounds that the US had failed to implement the ruling. WT/DS322/46WT/DS322/23WT/DS322/24