GENEVA, (Reuters) – The World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body ruled against the United States yesterday in a dispute with Mexico over tuna labelling, upholding an earlier ruling issued in April that found U.S. rules discriminated against Mexico.
“The Appellate Body concludes that the United States has not brought its dolphin-safe labelling regime for tuna products into conformity with the recommendations and rulings of the (WTO’s dispute settlement body),” the WTO’s appeals judges said at the end of their 144-page ruling on the case.
The appeal ruling is final, and could lead to Mexico making a claim for retaliation against U.S. exports if it believes the United States has not brought its rules into line with the WTO ruling.
“The United States is disappointed with this most recent report,” Tim Reif, general counsel at the U.S. Trade Represent-ative’s office, said in a statement.
The U.S. government would consult closely on the next steps with members of Congress, American fishermen and conservation NGOs, he said.
Mexico has been fighting for more than 20 years over rules the country argues have frozen its fishing industry out of a U.S. imported canned tuna market worth $680 million in 2014. Mexico has about a 3.5 percent share.
