WTO hands U.S. victory in poultry trade dispute with India

A dispute settlement panel cited India’s ban was imposed without ‘sufficient scientific evidence.’    The World Trade Organization on Tuesday found in favor of the United States in a dispute challenging India’s ban on various U.S. agricultural products — such as poultry meat, eggs, and live pigs — allegedly to protect against avian influenza.   
   A WTO dispute settlement panel agreed with the United States that India’s ban breached numerous international trade rules. The panel cited that the ban was imposed without “sufficient scientific evidence.”
   “The WTO panel agreed with the U.S. case that India lacks any scientific basis to restrict U.S. agricultural products, including U.S. poultry products,” said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman in a statement.  
   India erected the trade barrier to U.S. poultry products and live pigs seven years ago. The United States, however, has not had an outbreak of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since 2004, while during that same interval, India has had over 90 HPAI outbreaks.  
   The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said the country’s poultry industry estimates that its exports could exceed $300 million a year once India’s restrictions are removed. According to these businesses, nearly 20 percent of U.S. broiler chicken production and 12 percent of turkey production is exported to overseas markets.
   The United States initiated the WTO dispute by requesting consultations with India on March 6, 2012.  After consultations proved unsuccessful, the WTO set up a panel at the U.S. government’s request to hear claims that India’s avian influenza restrictions are inconsistent with India’s WTO obligations.