WTO Issues Final Ruling Backing Chinese Complaint Against U.S. Poultry Restrictions

The World Trade Organization on Sept. 29 made public a dispute panel ruling backing China 's complaint against a U.S. measure restricting imports of Chinese poultry products.

The ruling, circulated to China and the United States on a confidential basis in July, will not have any effect on the targeted imports, as the measure in question — the U.S. Omnibus Appropriation Act of 2009 — expired Sept. 30, 2009 .

A section of that appropriations law prohibited USDA from taking action, including expending funds, to: (1) establish or implement measures allowing for the importation from China poultry products that the USDA has already determined are eligible to be so imported under existing U.S. measures, and (2) establish or implement measures expanding the scope of poultry products that may be imported from China.

Following the public release of the finding China's Commerce Ministry welcomed the WTO ruling and urged the United States to "thoroughly remove the discriminative restrictions" on Chinese imports.

Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said Chinese chicken products are safe and hopes the United States can take measures to resume normal trade of poultry between the two countries soon.