ABSTRACT
The United States and the European Union share a common desire to provide a safe food supply and credible regulatory systems. However, they have adopted two very different regulatory approaches to deal with the increasing numbers of genetically modified (GM) food and feed products coming to market. Consequently, the transatlantic relationship has become fraught with conflict over this issue. In August 2003, this conflict resulted in the US, Argentina, Canada, and Egypt filing a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against the European Union for suspending the approval of biotechnology products. In addition, the case was brought against several individual EU Member States that maintain a number of national marketing and import bans on biotechnology products. The US claims they have lost exports equalling at least US$1.8 billion due to the EU’s sanctions.
