US trade officials appealing dolphin-safe labeling decision

U.S. trade officials said Friday they will appeal a decision by the World Trade Organization that found dolphin-safe labeling too restrictive in a decades-long disagreement over Mexican tuna imports. 

“Our dolphin-safe labeling measures for tuna products provide information for American consumers as they make food-purchasing decisions for their families,” Andrea Mead, press secretary for the trade office, said Friday in a news release.

“Our decision to appeal the WTO ruling in this case demonstrates the commitment of the United States to our dolphin-safe labeling measures.”

The United States has limited the sale of Mexican tuna since 1991 over what U.S. officials argue are problems with the techniques of Mexican fishing vessels.

Under the United States’s dolphin-safe labeling provisions, producers of tuna products — whether foreign or domestic — have the option of labeling tuna products that meet the standards of the U.S. provisions as dolphin-safe. 

Mexico has challenged a condition for the dolphin-safe label stating that the tuna doesn’t qualify if dolphins are purposefully chased and encircled to catch the fish, a method deemed harmful to dolphins.

Mexico has argued that its tuna-catching practices and regulations meet global standards.

The United States and Mexico require inspectors aboard tuna vessels during fishing trips. 

The WTO judges in their Sept. 15 ruling also rejected Mexico’s claim that “dolphin-safe” labeling provisions are discriminatory.

The WTO judges ruled that the measures do not treat Mexico’s tuna products any less favorably than tuna products from the United States or other trade group members, and that any adverse effects felt by Mexican tuna producers from the U.S. labeling requirements are the result of choices made by Mexico’s own fishing fleet and canners. 

Mexico filed its complaint against the United States in October 2008 at the WTO.