Mexico has complained alleging that U.S. rules on “dolphin-safe” tuna are illegal. WTO is said to consider this complaint and ready to look into the matter. According to Mexico U.S. labeling restrictions effectively exclude Mexican tuna from the U.S. market and have caused a third of the nation’s tuna fleet to shut down. Mexico claims that its tuna production complies with international standards on reducing the accidental capture of dolphins. But it says U.S. rules prohibit Mexico from using the “dolphin-safe” label needed to sell the product in the United States.
However, the U.S. mission to the WTO didn’t comment on this. It is said that the issue of tuna and dolphins is a sensitive one that pits environment against trade, and originated with the WTO’s predecessor body, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. It is told that Mexico won a case in 1991 over a U.S. law that banned imports of tuna caught in nets that also harm dolphins, but the old rules allowed the loser to simply ignore the ruling by exercising its veto power.
There is no doubt that the WTO, created in 1995, has stricter enforcement powers and can authorize sanctions against countries that violate international trade agreements — but usually after years of litigation.
