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Global Trade's Anti-Environmental Record Dolphins Under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (predecessor of the WTO), a US law to protect dolphins from encirclement and drowning in tuna nets was ruled to be an illegal barrier to trade in 1991. Congress later weakened this law to avoid another clash in the WTO. Sea Turtles In 1998, the WTO ruled against a US law that protects endangered sea turtles from drowning in shrimp nets. The State Department later set new rules that weakened sea turtle safeguards. Forests To avoid conflicts in the WTO, the US Department of Agriculture refuses to set strong standards to prevent introductions of tree-eating invasive pests. Now the Asian long-horned beetle, a recent arrival, threatens to destroy our sugar maples. Safe Food The United States used the WTO to successfully challenge Europe's ban on beef treated with artificial growth hormones despite evidence that hormones in the diet may cause cancer. US food safety laws could be attacked next under these same trade rules. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club