Last Updated on 5/27/03
Email: information@biotech-info.net
Editorial
The United States' challenge to Europe's ban on approving new transgenic
foods could yield nothing but losers.
The transatlantic transgenic trade war has begun. Since 1998, when the
European Union (EU) stopped approving new transgenic food crops for sale,
US farmers have been seething. And last week, their government finally
moved to open EU markets to genetically modified (GM) food, mounting a
legal challenge to Europe's moratorium.
While few in US government or industry are happy about the EU's position,
even fewer believe there is much to gain from taking the case to the World
Trade Organization (WTO) at this late stage. The State Department, in
particular, is opposed to anything that would strain already fractious
US-European relations still further. Crop biotechnology companies would
also have preferred a diplomatic route.
There are various motivations for the WTO suit (see page 369). But in the
event, the action may have as much to do with domestic US politics as
anything else. Senator Chuck Grassley (Republican, Iowa) had warned that
he would speak out if the challenge were not filed soon. As chair of the
Senate Committee on Finance, responsible for pushing through the
administration's tax cuts, Grassley is not someone with whom President
George W. Bush wanted to fall out.
The problem is that the suit stands to do little good. The EU moratorium
had appeared likely to end later this year anyway, as soon as strict rules
requiring GM produce to be labelled are finalized. The danger now is that
EU member states might respond by continuing their moratorium for another
year or so, until the suit is resolved. Even if the WTO rules in favour of
the United States, an aggrieved Europe might defy the ruling and pay any
retaliatory import duties that the United States would then impose.
Such tit-for-tat measures are in no one's interest, however. Although it
might be seen as capitulation, the sensible response would be for the EU
to swallow its pride and lift its embargo, as soon as its labelling rules
are in place. So far, there is no scientific evidence suggesting that GM
crops pose a special risk to human health or the environment. Countries
may still reject any GM crop or product that is subsequently shown to pose
a demonstrable hazard. And once labelling is in place, consumers who
distrust the technology can simply reject GM food in the marketplace.
** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material
is distributed for research and educational purposes only. **
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Last Updated on 5/27/03 Email: information@biotech-info.net |
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