Argentina Files WTO Disputes Against U.S. Import Restrictions

September 10, 2012

Shortly following the United States’ request for World Trade Organization (WTO) consultations regarding Argentina’s trade restrictive measures, Argentina launched two WTO disputes against U.S. import restrictions. On August 30, 2012, Argentina notified the WTO of a request for consultations with the United States regarding imports of meat and other products of animal origin from Argentina. Argentina claims that U.S. restrictions on the import of fresh bovine meat, which are applied on sanitary grounds, lack scientific justification. Subsequently, on September 3, 2012, Argentina launched another request for consultations with the United States, this time regarding U.S. import restrictions on lemons from the north-western region of Argentina. According to Argentina’s consultation request, U.S. prohibitions on lemon imports and other restrictive measures, which have lasted over ten years, do not have scientific justification. Argentina argues that U.S.  measures regarding meat and lemons from Argentina appear to cancel or impair the benefits for Argentina derived, directly or indirectly, from the relevant WTO agreements.

The requests for consultations formally initiate the WTO’s dispute settlement process. Under WTO rules, if the disputes are not resolved within sixty days, Argentina may request the establishment of dispute settlement panels.

On August 21, 2012, the United States and Japan each filed a request for consultations with Argentina regarding Argentina’s trade restrictive measures. Mexico submitted a similar request on August 24, 2012, as did the European Union last May.

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