October 27, 2010

US accedes to WTO ruling on Chinese poultry

The US did not appeal the World Trade Organisation's adoption of its dispute panel's decision against US restrictions on imports of Chinese chicken.

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 US Congress would still hinder its ability to access the US poultry market in the future, WTO stated.

Washington did not object to the WTO's adoption of the ruling published September 29, the International Business News quoted an anonymous attendee of the dispute panel meeting as saying.