Agriculture Minister Guclu Met U.S. Ambassador Edelman

ANKARA - Turkish Agriculture & Rural Affairs Minister Sami Guclu met on Monday U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Eric Edelman.
The meeting was closed to the press.
U.S. affirms that Turkey's policy not allowing meat imports and imposition of tariff quotas on rice imports violated the principles of World Trade Organization (WTO).
U.S. wants meat imports to be allowed and customs taxes to be reduced after lifting tariff quotas on rice imports. U.S. states that the issue could be brought to the WTO, in case talks with Turkey do not reach to an agreement. Talks are underway between the Turkish and U.S. officials since March.
Turkey defends that Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) disease seen in certain countries is the main reason of not allowing meat imports. Similarly many other countries do not allow meat and livestock imports basing on the same reason, sources said.
(AY-ULG) 20.09.2004