International news briefs

WTO recognises asbestos danger

World Trade Organisation officials are claiming a new trade ruling on asbestos proves that the body is not, as critics claim, stacked in favour of business interests.

A WTO dispute resolution panel decision, due for official release in September, has upheld the French government's right to ban the import of asbestos. The ban had been challenged by Canada, which claimed it was a barrier to trade which was illegal under WTO rules.

Environmentalists have pointed out that the asbestos ruling is the first of hundreds of panel decisions to favour the environment over business.

US threat on GE food

The United States government has warned that it will make a formal complain to the World Trade Organisation if the European Union does not remove regulations specifying that all genetically engineered food be labelled as such.

A spokesperson for the US Food and Drug Administration called the EU's GE labelling requirements “economic fraud” and “trade discrimination” and said the US would ask for the right to apply costly economic sanctions against Europe.

The dispute is the latest in a long-running trade war. The US is also incensed at EU concessions to non-US banana growers in the Caribbean and restrictions on growth-hormone-laden beef.

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