Trade Minister, Mark Vaile, today said Australia would step up the fight with the US over lamb. "We have not been satisfied with the US Government's responses to our requests on their totally unjustified decision to impose tariff quotas on our lamb exports," Mr Vaile said. "We have no option now but to seek a World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement panel. Discussions to date have failed. We now have no option but to seek to have the matter heard before a dispute settlement panel. "The US import restrictions imposed in July on our unsubsidised lamb are unfair and unjustifiable under WTO rules, and are simply bad policy for US consumers, and US lamb producers. "Our industry was more than willing to help grow the US market to everyone's benefit. However, the US administration succumbed to short-sighted domestic political pressure." WTO dispute consultations were held with the US in late August. These failed, and Australia will seek a WTO dispute settlement panel to resolve the matter.
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