NEWS RELEASES
CANADA WELCOMES WTO REPORT ONEU BEEF IMPORT BAN
August 25, 1997 No. 133
CANADA WELCOMES WTO REPORT ON
EU BEEF IMPORT BAN
International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister
Lyle Vanclief today welcomed the World Trade Organization's (WTO) panel report
concerning the European Union's (EU) ban on imports of Canadian beef.
"The WTO panel report supports Canada's long-standing position that the import ban
imposed by the EU was not consistent with its obligations under the WTO. This
important finding also underlines that Canada's trade interests are best defended
through a rules-based system," said Mr. Marchi.
"This ruling is an important step toward re-opening access to European markets for
Canada's high-quality beef and beef byproducts," said Mr. Vanclief. "Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada will continue working in close co-operation with Canada's
beef producers and exporters to ensure they have fair access to the European
market, where their products are sure to do well because of Canada's reputation
for excellent quality food."
In 1989, the EU imposed a ban on imports of Canadian beef produced with growth-promoting hormones. The EU argued that the ban was a health protection measure,
however, internationally accepted studies have consistently found that the use of
the growth hormones in question presents no danger to beef consumers.
Canada requested a WTO dispute-settlement panel in 1996 after direct consultations
with the European Union failed to resolve the dispute. The EU still has the right
to appeal the finding of the report.
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The WTO panel report can be found on the Internet at: http://www.wto.org/
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Leslie Swartman,
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Vern Greenshields
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
(613) 759-1020
This document is also on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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