OTTAWA, June 9 (Xinhua): Canada has requested that a World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement panel be established to solve the issue of US agricultural subsidies, Minister of International Trade David Emerson announced yesterday.
"We remain concerned that the US is providing agricultural subsidies in breach of its WTO commitments," Emerson said in a statement.
Canada considers that US subsidies exceed its annual WTO commitments of 19.1 billion US dollars in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005, said the statement.
The United States also provides export credit guarantees that subsidise the exportation of certain agricultural products, it said.
The request comes as US lawmakers draft the next farm bill, and Emerson urged Washington to ensure that its next farm bill complies with WTO rules.
Canada had requested consultations with the United States on the matter in January. Eight other WTO members including the European Union, Australia and others joined the consultations as third parties. The consultations did not resolve the issue.
Canada requests WTO panel to solve US agri subsidies
FE Team | Published: June 10, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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