Canada and Brazil have charged the United States paid more subsidies to farmers between 1999 and 2005 than their promised limits. The countries plan to ask the WTO Dispute Settlement Body meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday to appoint a panel to investigate their claim.
The Bush Administration denies the allegation. They are expected to block the panel on Monday, which would delay but not stop the formation of the panel. A defending country is allowed to block the creation of a panel once, but it automatically is formed at the next meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body. They are next scheduled to meet on December 18; however any ruling they make on the case would not be released until the middle of next year.
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