In August of 2003, the U.S. asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to step in to force the hand of the European Union in a disagreement over the EU's ban on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Europe has long resisted using genetically modified crops and foods, much to the consternation of the U.S., home to several corporate giants who sell their products world-wide. The case involved the purported "moratorium" on GM imports and Argentina and Canada backed the US.
Yesterday the WTO issued a preliminary ruling saying that the EU had effectively barred the products and the action conflicted with the WTO trade regime. Businesses and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported vindication. However the EU is claiming that the WTO ruling does not effect its current bans, and that it never had a "de facto moratorium".
Acronym Required previously wrote about transgenic crops, the EU v. US, in another case here.
