21 Sep 2004

EU to appeal WTO sugar ruling

8:11 am on 21 September 2004

The European Union is to appeal against a ruling by the World Trade Organisation which says EU subsidies for sugar production break international trade rules.

This has been revealed by the French agriculture minister, Herve Gaymard, in Mauritius - one of the African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar producers badly affected by the ruling.

Mr Gaymard said the appeal will be launched in the next few days and the outcome known by the second quarter of next year.

Australia, Brazil and Thailand brought the case against the European Union with the ruling badly impacting on ACP sugar producers like Fiji and Mauritius.