U.S. requests WTO action against Turkish rice import restrictions

U.S. requests WTO action against Turkish rice import restrictions    The United States filed a World Trade Organization case this week against Turkey, citing unfair restrictions on American rice exports.
   Turkey restricts rice imports in various ways through its import licensing requirements.
   Turkey Tuesday reinstituted its domestic purchase requirement. This allows limited imports of rice at reduced duty rates, but only if an importer also buys significant quantities of domestic rice — in some cases, more than three times the quantity to be imported, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
   Due to these trade restrictions, Turkey’s imports of U.S. rice of all types have declined by two-thirds since 2003, with imports of U.S. milled and semi-milled rice down 91 percent over the same period.
   “American rice farmers deserve fair access to Turkey’s market,” said U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman in a statement. “Right now American rice exports are being unfairly restricted.”
   Portman said the United States has raised the issue with the Turkish government on several occasions, both bilaterally and in Geneva. “We sincerely hope that Turkey uses the opportunity of WTO consultations to resolve these concerns.”
   Turkey’s domestic rice market is forecast to be worth more than $200 million in 2006.
   Consultations are the first step in a WTO dispute. Under WTO rules, parties that do not resolve an issue through consultations may refer the matter to a WTO dispute settlement panel.