The European Union has used a two-day WTO review of U.S. trade policies to raise concerns about rising levels of protectionism in the country, the 27-nation bloc said in a press release on Wednesday.
The ninth WTO Trade Policy Review of the United States concluded on Wednesday. In the course of the review, the EU submitted more than 90 detailed technical questions to the United States about aspects of its trade policy.
In its opening statement to the meeting, the EU drew attention to worrying signs of a re-emergence of protectionism in a number of policy areas in the United States.
It noted in particular the mounting restrictive import requirements for security purposes that are imposing considerable burdens on EU exporters.
It also raised doubts about the compliance of these measures with WTO rules, and their professed intent.
The EU also pointed out that the United States has not opted for a more reform-oriented agricultural policy in the new 2008 Farm Bill.
The recently enacted Farm Bill maintains the same trade-distorting character as its predecessor, it said.
In questions to the United States, the EU also raised the use of fisheries subsidies, intellectual property rights enforcement, sanitary measures for food products, RTA policy and constraints on investment in services sectors, such as financial services and telecommunications.
Source:Xinhua
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