I haven't seen much detail about this, but there are two reports of a new WTO complaint by Mexico against U.S. tuna restrictions:
The Mexican government says it has formally requested World Trade Organization consultations on U.S. labeling restrictions that it says effectively exclude Mexican tuna from the U.S. market.
Mexico claims its tuna complies with international standards on reducing the accidental capture of dolphins. But U.S. rules prohibit Mexico from using the "dolphin-safe" label needed to sell the product in the United States.
Mexico's Economy Department said Friday in a statement that the restrictions have shut down a third of the Mexican tuna fleet.
I'll update this post if I hear more.
UPDATE: Here's the consultations request. Some of the key language:
The US measures have the effect of prohibiting the labelling of Mexican tuna and tuna products as "dolphin-safe", even when the tuna has been harvested by means that comply with the multilaterally agreed "dolphin-safe" standard established by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, while tuna products from most other countries, including the United States, are allowed to be labelled as "dolphin-safe".
In this respect, it appears that:
1. Mexican products are accorded treatment less favourable than like products of national origin and like products originating in any other country;
2. Mexican products are not accorded immediately and unconditionally any advantage, favour, privilege or immunity granted to like products of any other Member;
3. the measures have the effect of creating unnecessary obstacles to trade;
4. the measures do not use as their basis an existing international standard; and
5. the procedures for assessing conformity with the "dolphin-safe" technical regulation (i) do not grant access for suppliers of Mexican products under conditions no less favourable than those accorded to like products of national origin or originating in any other country, in a comparable situation, and (ii) create unnecessary obstacles to international trade.
