Under the WTO   back to top

> European Communities — Measures affecting asbestos and asbestos-containing products. WTO case No. 135. Ruling adopted on 5 April 2001. Case brought by Canada.

The Panel and the Appellate Body in this case both rejected Canada's challenge to France import ban on asbestos and asbestos-containing products, reinforcing the view that the WTO Agreements support members' ability to protect human health and safety at the level of protection they deem appropriate.
  

> United States — Import Prohibition of Certain Shrimp and Shrimp Products, the “shrimp-turtle” case. WTO case Nos. 58 and 61. Ruling adopted on 6 November 1998. Case brought by India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand. 
Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU. Ruling adopted on 21 November 2001. Case brought by Malaysia.

Many have missed the importance of the Appellate Body’s ruling on this case. It recognized that under WTO rules governments have every right to protect human, animal or plant life and health and to take measures to conserve exhaustible resources. The WTO does not have to “allow” them this right. Initially, the US lost the case because it applied its import measures in a discriminatory manner; it then revised its measures to introduce flexibilities in favour of developing countries. The Appellate Body subsequently concluded that the US ban was consistent with WTO rules. The ruling also said WTO panels may accept “amicus briefs” (friends of the court submissions) from NGOs or other interested parties.

  

> United States — Standards for Reformulated and Conventional Gasoline, WTO case Nos. 2 and 4. Ruling adopted on 20 May 1996. Case brought by Venezuela and Brazil.

The case affirmed that the US had every right to adopt the highest possible standard to protect its air quality so long as it did not discriminate against foreign imports. The US lost the case because it discriminated — its requirement on domestic producers was less stringent than that imposed on imported gasoline (in this case from Venezuela and Brazil).

  
  

Under GATT   back to top

(Adopted, pre-WTO, GATT panel reports can be downloaded here)

> United States — Taxes on Automobiles, ruling not adopted, circulated on 11 October 1994. Case brought by EU.
  

> United States — Restrictions on Imports of Tuna, “son of tuna-dolphin”, ruling not adopted, circulated on 16 June 1994. Case brought by EU.
  

> United States — Restrictions on Imports of Tuna, the “tuna-dolphin” case, ruling not adopted, circulated on 3 September 1991. Case brought by Mexico, etc.
  

> Thailand — Restrictions on the Importation of and Internal Taxes on Cigarettes, ruling adopted on 7 November 1990. Case brought by US.
  

> Canada — Measures Affecting Exports of Unprocessed Herring and Salmon, ruling adopted on 22 March 1988. Case brought by US.
  

> United States — Prohibition of Imports of Tuna and Tuna Products from Canada, ruling adopted on 22 February 1982. Case brought by Canada.