US blocks Canada complaint at WTO over farm subsidies
Afp, Geneva
The United States on Wednesday blocked a complaint by Canada at the World Trade Organisation which claims that Washington uses "trade-distorting" farm subsidies on products such as corn, trade sources said. Canada filed the claim earlier this month, saying Washington violated WTO commitments on subsidies to a wide variety of crops including corn, wheat, soybeans, sugar, peas and beans. In 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005, the US exceeded its WTO commitments on subsidies by billions of dollars each year, Canada said. The measures at issue include a broad range of agriculture subsidies and export credit guarantees, Canada added in its filing to the WTO's Disputes Settlement Body. Under WTO rules, the dispute will automatically be heard by the DSB if Canada renews its complaint. The US said it was "disappointed" at the Canadian move, and added there was no basis to the claims that its agriculture subsidies were trade-distorting.
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