[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 72 (Friday, May 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1067]]

    U.S. WINS IN THE WTO AGAINST EUROPEAN UNION IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

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                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 30, 1997

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Office of 
the United States Trade Representative [USTR] for its success in the 
World Trade Organization [WTO] case against the European Union's [EU] 
banana regime. Ruling in favor of the United States, a WTO panel 
recently found that numerous aspects of the EU import licensing system 
are squarely in violation of WTO provisions. As an institution, the new 
WTO offers the United States enhanced opportunities to break open 
foreign markets which are unfairly closed to U.S. companies. Through 
skilled use of the WTO dispute settlement system, Ambassador Barshefsky 
and her negotiators have secured a more level-playing field for U.S. 
businesses in the EU market.
  I want my colleagues to be aware that this decision against EU 
licensing procedures represents a big win for U.S. trade objectives. 
First, it will help demonstrate that trade agreements can serve as an 
effective means of resolving trade disputes. And, by doing so, it 
underscores the value of pushing ahead with new trade negotiations. The 
banana case represents the first U.S. victory against the EU in the 
WTO, and should provide renewed hope for resolving numerous contentious 
disputes, particularly those we have which concern protectionist EU 
agricultural policies. Also, in her statement yesterday announcing the 
decision, Ambassador Barshefsky mentioned that the report does not find 
that duty-free preferences for Caribbean imports are inconsistent with 
WTO obligations, and she pledged to support future economic 
diversification in the Caribbean.
  Finally, by giving life to some of the new WTO agreements--such as 
the General Agreement on Trade in Services and the Licensing 
Agreement--the panel outcome will contribute to international trade 
rules which will be of benefit to a wide range of U.S. trade interests 
in many WTO disputes to come.
  Again, I congratulate Ambassador Barshefsky and request that my 
colleagues join me in calling on the EU to step up to the plate and 
support the new multilateral system by expeditiously bringing its 
unfair practices into conformity with the WTO ruling.

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