Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 7/21/09

Washington on Monday blocked China's request at the World Trade Organization for the formation of a panel of judges to study a U.S. ban on imports of Chinese poultry that Beijing argues violates WTO rules, according to a report by Reuters.

China responded by calling for an extra meeting July 31 to approve the panel, which would occur after that session. As a matter of procedure, the defendant in a trade dispute can block a dispute panel one time.

At issue is the U.S. Omnibus Appropriations Act for 2009, which urges that no funds be spent on facilitating Chinese chicken imports.

"While violating various WTO rules, the measure has severely undermined the stable development of Sino-U.S. trade on poultry, and damaged the lawful rights and interests of China's poultry industry," China's WTO delegation reportedly said in a statement to the dispute body.

The U.S. team reportedly said, "The United States places great importance on ensuring that its measures relating to food safety are based on science and in compliance with U.S. obligations under the WTO Agreement."

China filed the trade dispute in April.

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