Going back on an earlier decision to join Canada's complaint filed last month over the same issue, Brazil chose to go its separate way to have a greater voice in the World Trade Organization disputes settlement process.

"As one of the world's top agricultural producer and exporter, Brazil is interested in joining and influencing the evolution of WTO jurisprudence regarding the application of multilateral regulations on farm trade," the Foreign Ministry said.

"Brazil hopes the (WTO) consultations will be conducted in a constructive spirit and lead to a solution that will fully safeguard all national interests," the statement added.

Brazil heads the so-called G-20 group of 20 emerging economies clamoring for greater access to European Union and US markets, where protective tariffs and farm subsidies give local farm products a competitive edge.

US TAKES CHINA TO WTO ON INDUSTRY SUBSIDIES
Another report from Washington adds: The United States on Thursday requested a formal WTO hearing on Chinese industrial subsidies that US officials said violated global trading rules.

The request for a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel came after Washington initiated a complaint in February on what it called "illegal" subsidies on a variety of products.