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06 Mar 2002
Friends of the Earth today called on European Governments to ban US imports of GM food [1]and to levy an energy tax on US goods entering Europe in retaliation for President Bush's imposition of a 8-30% levy on imported steel.
Tony Juniper, director-designate at Friends of the Earth said:
“Mr Bush's action against steel imports proves the hypocrisy of the US's position on free trade. They insist that other countries open their markets to US imports but when free trade doesn't suit their own domestic market, protectionism intervenes.
If Europe retaliates, it should consider banning US GM food imports.
Despite the fact that European consumers have said no to GM ingredients,
the US has threatened legal action under World Trade Organisation rules
if Europe tries to stop them being imported. Now that the US administration
has revealed that WTO rules count for little, it is time for Europe
to act.
EU Governments should also now levy an energy tax on US imports to compensate
for George Bush's refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. If Bush wants
to run a pick and mix approach to international agreements, Europe has
every right to penalise US goods for the pollution they cause.
Trade rules should be overhauled giving priority to fair trade, not free trade. Perhaps the US will now have more sympathy with these arguments.”
[1] The EU currently has a moratorium on the import of new GM products which has led to US threats of legal action under WTO rules. Genetically modified food that was being imported prior to the introduction of the moratorium is still imported to the EU - including GM soya and maize,primarily in animal feed.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
