Press Release: US Byrd Amendment: WTO authorises retaliation – US urged to conform to WTO ruling

The EU, alongside six WTO members (Brazil, Canada, India, Korea, Japan and Mexico), received WTO authorisation on 26 November 2004 to impose retaliatory measures against the US for failing to bring its legislation into conformity with its international trade obligations. This was a formal step before retaliatory measures could be imposed. These measures would take the form of additional import duties on wide variety of US products from an indicative list approved by the WTO that includes machinery, foodstuffs, textiles and paper products. The EU had urged the US to avoid retaliation by complying with its international obligations.