WTO sides with US farmers in dispute with India

(AP)—The World Trade Organization has ruled in favor of U.S. poultry and egg farmers in a dispute with India.

United States Trade Representative Michael Froman said Tuesday that the WTO had ruled against Indian restrictions on U.S. imports of meat and eggs that were intended to prevent avian influenza from entering that country. The restrictions began in 2007.

The United States argued in a 2012 challenge that there was no scientific basis for the restrictions and that they were inconsistent with international guidelines. There has not been an outbreak of high-pathogenic avian influenza in the United States since 2004, officials said.

Froman and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the decision was a major victory for U.S. farmers.

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