In an interview published in the Financial Times a few days ago, the European Union Minister of Foreign Affairs stated his fears that the White House was under the religious influence of those who view people who do not agree with them as enemies. It may not be a coincidence for the top US trade official in WTO to say on 10th January that he was ready to launch a WTO challenge against the European Union over its refusal to lift the moratorium on the approval of new genetically modified crops. He considers it such a total violation of the WTO that it requires them to bring a case. This comes after years of indecision during which two previous US administrations weighed the options and favored diplomacy to resolve it.
The Financial Times of last Saturday considered the challenge to the European restrictions on genetically modified products to be among the most contentious issues yet to confront the WTO’s dispute settlement process.
This might be so. The US, for whatever reason, now looks likely to fight it all the way. The opposition to GM is not restricted to Europe but extends to Africa and Asia. Apparently both the US and the European Union are fighting and each believe the other is wrong. Somehow the US seems to be losing the support of certain African countries who have rejected US food and shipments containing GM. Mr. Zoellkk went on record to charge that some European countries had pressed Africa to reject US aid. The European Union also believes that many developing countries have been pressured by US officials to accept GM food. Apparently a few might have cooperated but most resented the rough handling and ignored the pressure. All this is detrimental to international trade and adds to the confusion in developing countries.
The European commission claims that it favors the removal of the moratorium on GM which has been in force for over four years. However, it is maintained in response to consumer and pressure groups. The EU commission states that it developed a new system for tracing and labeling GM foods but the US team totally rejected it.
The two “wise leaders” better grow up and settle their differences outside the organization. WTO cannot get on with the issues to liberate trade when war between “them” is the order of the day. The Financial Times reports that unless the Europeans take concrete steps to end the moratorium on GM, a decision by the full US cabinet is likely this month. This will undoubtedly muddy the issues even more, but it will not achieve much. Just for the record, the US won a similar case in 1997 but the EU has so far failed to implement the ruling.
No doubt about it. The two big brothers are playing cat and mouse. Each one is blaming the other without really caring for the outcome. Could this be intentional to stall the Doha negotiations? For certain it will be a long drawn battle but without reference to world trade issues. Whoever wins might not be able to enforce the decision. WTO today has “two cooks” that definitely intend to spoil the broth for good!
Arab News Features 13 January 2003