WTO rules in favor of US in rice row
The World Trade Organization ruled in favor of the US on Friday in a dispute over Turkey's restrictions on US rice imports.
By Agencies |
GENEVA: The World Trade Organization ruled in favor of the US on Friday in a dispute over Turkey's restrictions on US rice imports.
The WTO panel said Turkey has violated international trade agreements by offering lower tariffs to its rice importers as long as they bought significant quantities of domestic rice.
Washington said the Turkish practice was hurting U.S. rice exports in a market potentially worth more than US$200 million (euro140 million) annually. It said some Turkish importers were being forced to buy up to three times more Turkish rice than imported US rice to qualify for the lower tariff.
Turkey told the panel that its measure had already expired and that it had no plans to reintroduce it.
The panel noted Turkey's declaration, but recommended that it nevertheless ensure all inconsistent measures were brought in line with WTO agreements.
U.S. rice is grown primarily in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas.
Washington brought the case to the WTO in 2006, saying that it tried for three years to settle the problem, but failed.
Turkey has 60 days to appeal the decision.
The WTO panel said Turkey has violated international trade agreements by offering lower tariffs to its rice importers as long as they bought significant quantities of domestic rice.
Washington said the Turkish practice was hurting U.S. rice exports in a market potentially worth more than US$200 million (euro140 million) annually. It said some Turkish importers were being forced to buy up to three times more Turkish rice than imported US rice to qualify for the lower tariff.
Turkey told the panel that its measure had already expired and that it had no plans to reintroduce it.
The panel noted Turkey's declaration, but recommended that it nevertheless ensure all inconsistent measures were brought in line with WTO agreements.
U.S. rice is grown primarily in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas.
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Washington brought the case to the WTO in 2006, saying that it tried for three years to settle the problem, but failed.
Turkey has 60 days to appeal the decision.
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