Media release
Friday 27 September 2002 - MVT115/2002
Australia to Take the Sweetener out of EU Sugar
Australia will initiate a formal World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute
challenge to European Union sugar subsidies today, Trade Minister
Mark Vaile said.
"Australia will lodge a request for dispute consultations, the first
step in the formal WTO dispute process, which would allow Australia
to question the EU over its sugar subsidy program," Mr Vaile said.
"The EU's reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy have not included
the EU sugar regime. This WTO action will force the EU to consider
the interests of other sugar producers.
"I announced in August Australia's intention to launch this course
of action and we will be seeking to schedule the first round of consultations
in Geneva within the next month or so."
Australia's request identifies the following measures: EU export
subsidies on sugar and products incorporating sugar in excess of its
WTO export subsidy obligations; and discriminatory subsidies to EU
refiners, in respect of its WTO National Treatment Obligations.
The consultation phase must last at least 60 days but can span several
months. A decision on whether to proceed to a formal request for legal
adjudication would be made after an assessment of developments in
the consultation phase.
The action is being taken in consultation with Brazil which has launched
a similar challenge.
"Australia is committed to pushing for reform of world trade so that
our producers can compete in fair global markets as an efficient world
class export industry."
"In taking this WTO dispute action, we are demonstrating our resolve
to ensure Australian sugar producers are not impacted by discriminatory
trade-distorting subsidies."
Media Contact: Mark Croxford +61 02 6277 7420
Local Date:
Tuesday, 16-Mar-2010 03:03:04 EST