Environment & Energy

Judi Lynn

(160,450 posts) Tue Mar 22, 2016, 06:28 PM Mar 2016

U.S. expands 'dolphin safe' tuna rules to end trade dispute

Tue Mar 22, 2016 5:54pm EDT
Related: Environment, Mexico

U.S. expands 'dolphin safe' tuna rules to end trade dispute

WASHINGTON | By David Lawder

The United States on Tuesday announced that tougher rules for labeling Mexican tuna imports as "dolphin-safe" would be expanded to the rest of the world in a bid to end a long-running trade dispute with Mexico.

The World Trade Organization last November upheld a ruling that the United States was discriminating against Mexican tuna imports by applying the tougher catch verification and documentation rules to Mexican fishing fleets in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean.

Instead of loosening the rules on Mexico, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published new rules that raised the standards for all other countries. (here)

"The United States champions policies that protect dolphin populations from fishing practices that endanger them, and today's announcement of NOAA's interim final rule is a significant win in that effort," U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said in a statement.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mexico-tuna-idUSKCN0WO32T

2 replies

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U.S. expands 'dolphin safe' tuna rules to end trade dispute (Original Post) Judi Lynn Mar 2016 OP

AP: The U.S. is tightening "dolphin-safe" tuna rules Judi Lynn Mar 2016 #1

WTO got a lot of flax months ago on this. Sounds like things have worked out well Hoyt Mar 2016 #2

Judi Lynn

(160,450 posts)

1. AP: The U.S. is tightening "dolphin-safe" tuna rules

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Tue Mar 22, 2016, 06:34 PM

Mar 2016

AP/ March 22, 2016, 5:55 PM

The U.S. is tightening "dolphin-safe" tuna rules

WASHINGTON - The U.S., facing sanctions for discriminating against Mexican tuna imports, is expanding tougher rules for labeling tuna '"dolphin-safe" on the rest of the world instead of easing up on Mexico.

Last fall, the World Trade Organization ruled that the U.S. was unfairly using stricter tracking and verification standards on tuna fishing in the waters from San Diego to Peru, where Mexican fleets operate, than it was imposing on fleets elsewhere. In retaliation, Mexico has been preparing to slap $472 million in tariffs against imports of high fructose corn syrup from the U.S.

However, the U.S. decided against loosening the rules on Mexico, choosing instead a plan that "elevates requirements for tuna product from every other region of the world," U.S. Trade Rep. Michael Froman said in a statement.

The dolphin-safe labels are supposed to ensure that canned, dried and frozen tuna has been caught without endangering dolphins. Schools of tuna tend to gather and swim with some species of dolphins.

More:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-u-s-is-tightening-dolphin-safe-tuna-rules/

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)

2. WTO got a lot of flax months ago on this. Sounds like things have worked out well