EU blocks request for WTO ruling on poultry ban

According to reports, the European Union blocked the U.S. request for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to rule on an American poultry ban by Europe.The ban stems from pathogen-reduction treatments used to clean U.S. poultry, which is not allowed in the EU. Imports of U.S. chicken and turkey stopped in April 1997. Should trade resume, U.S. poultry producers stand to gain over $300 million in export sales, according to the National Chicken Council.
The EU was able to block the first request from the U.S. to involve the WTO, but under current dispute rules, will not be able to block a second request usually put forth the following month.