Topics handled by WTO committees and agreements
Issues covered by the WTO’s committees and agreements

 ENVIRONMENT: DISPUTES 1
Canada versus US: tuna import ban

A case brought by Canada against the US under GATT. The panel report was adopted in 1982.

Topics handled by WTO committees and agreements

United States — Prohibition of Imports of Tuna and Tuna Products from Canada

Panel finding adopted on 22 February 1982. Adopted, pre-WTO, GATT panel reports can be downloaded here.

An import prohibition was introduced by the US after Canada had seized 19 fishing vessels and arrested US fishermen fishing for albacore tuna, without authorization from the Canadian government, in waters considered by Canada to be under its jurisdiction. The US did not recognize this jurisdiction and introduced an import prohibition to retaliate under the Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The Panel found that the import prohibition was contrary to Article XI:1, and was justified neither under Article XI:2, nor under Article XX(g) of the General Agreement.

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