A World Trade Organisation (WTO) has backed Mexico in a dispute with the USA over trade barriers imposed on Mexican tuna imports.
The WTO panel ruled that Mexican fishermen's fishing methods are sustainable and meet the requirements of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in the protection of dolphins. The WTO has released a report issued by the panel that reviewed a complaint filed by Mexico regarding US measures concerning tuna and tuna product import, marketing and sale.
According to the panel, US provisions regarding "Dolphin Safe" labelling are "more restrictive than necessary" to ensure dolphin preservation. The US has a period of 60 days to appeal the decision so the process is expected to close in the first half of 2012.
The dispute between the two countries began in 1991 when Mexico objected to a US embargo imposed on its tuna under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Under US law, the "Dolphin Safe" label cannot be used for tuna caught by Mexican vessels with purse seines because they often trap dolphins. The Mexican government claims that its fishing practices are fully sustainable and meet IATTC's standards.
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