Trade Ruling Is Expected to Favor Biotech Food

The US is seeking a ruling from the WTO that could be a turning point in the fight over the growth of agricultural biotechnology. After numerous delays, the WTO will decide whether Europe is restricting the importation of genetically modified crops without legal basis. Joined by Canada and Argentina, the US calls European delays a moratorium, while Europe counters that the delays are justified for any products that pose potential health and environmental risks. US opponents to genetically modified crops agree, suggesting that health and safety concerns should not be “second-guessed by trade officials.” Biotech crops were introduced a decade ago, and use by farmers all over the world, especially the US, has grown since then. But biotech firms anticipate growth could bigger, if not for government restrictions and consumer wariness. European labeling and tracing of genetically modified ingredients are responsible for putting a “black mark on any biotech product,” according a food industry spokesperson. Although a ruling favoring the US may not necessarily overcome resistance to biotech food products, both sides look forward to establishing global precedent. – Yale Global