Reuters, 07.31.02, 2:32 PM ET
GENEVA, (Reuters) - The World Trade Organisation (WTO) said Wednesday it had ruled against the United States in a dispute with the European Union over tariffs imposed by Washington on steel exports from former state-owned firms.
The EU asked the WTO to set up a special disputes panel in August 2001 after negotiations with the United States on the issue failed.
In its ruling, the panel of experts said that the duties were "inconsistent" with so-called safeguard rules that WTO member countries can take to protect their industries.
The EU applauded the decision, which affects steel producers in France, Italy, Sweden, Germany and Britain.
"I call again upon the United States to promptly implement the panel findings and lift all WTO incompatible duties," EU Trade Commission Pascal Lamy said in a statement.
The dispute centred on whether formerly state-owned companies continued to benefit from state subsidies granted prior to privatisation.
The 15-country EU, in alliance with a number of other WTO states, has also taken Washington to the WTO over new steel import duties of up to 30 percent imposed by the Bush administration in March to bolster the troubled U.S. industry
Weren't you aware of the fact that smokers, like me, have no rights???
Hey, my own state Senator told me that.