Sugar ruling appealed by EU

THE European Union, the world’s second-largest sugar exporter after Brazil, has appealed a World Trade Organisation ruling that found its sugar exports illegally benefit from production subsidies.

“We are confident we have strong grounds for appeal,” said Fabian Delcros, a spokesman for the EU in Geneva, who confirmed the appeal notice had been filed with the WTO.

The WTO in October found as much as half of EU sugar exports violate global rules, supporting a joint complaint by Brazil, Australia and Thailand.