Does the WTO issue rulings which undermine national laws which provide environmental protection?
The treaty which is the basis for the WTO gives the WTO the authority to rule that certain laws which ostensibly provide environmental protection are in reality non-tariff trade barriers. Environmental organizations insist that this authority has been abused and cite three examples: • Venezuelan refined gas case The WTO held that standards imposed by the U.S. EPA discriminated against Venezuelan refiners. The ruling held U.S. could regulate air quality but that by adopting standards which were identical to U.S. industry practices, there was an unfair advantage to American refiners. • Hormone treated beef The WTO held that European restrictions on U.S. beef was not based on a sound scientific basis and therefore amounted to favorable treatment for domestic European beef producers. • The Shrimp and Turtles case U.S. regulations require that shrimp be caught through methods which do not endanger sea turtles. This rule applies to both domestic and imported shrimp. A WTO panel found this ru
