Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 10/26/10


The United States did not appeal the World Trade Organization’s adoption of its dispute panel’s ruling against U.S. restrictions on imports of Chinese chicken, according to a report by the International Business News.

Washington already had nixed the measures to which China objected, particularly a section of Congressional law that banned the funding necessary to implement a rule allowing imports of Chinese poultry products. A joint explanatory statement cited “very serious concerns about contaminated foods from China,” the WTO noted in a news release on its website.

However, China still complained that certain provisions in annual appropriations measures of U.S. Congress would still hinder its ability to access the U.S. poultry market in the future, WTO said on its website.

Washington didn’t object to the WTO’s adoption of the ruling published Sept. 29, the International Business News quoted an anonymous attendee of the dispute panel meeting as saying.

WTO said, “The U.S. expressed its disappointment with the panel’s findings.”

“As the measure at issue had expired, the U.S. considered that the measure had been withdrawn and that the dispute had been resolved,” the trade watchdog said.

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