CIEL requests that the European Comission make available to the public its initial written submission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Panel in the Brazil-Retreaded Tires case

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On June 9, 2006, CIEL sent a letter to the European Commission, requesting that it make available to the public its initial written submission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Panel in the Brazil-Retreaded Tires case, as well as subsequent filings of the EC in this case.

Brazil has already made public its written submission and posted it on their government website: http://www.mre.gov.br/portugues/ministerio/sitios_secretaria/cgc/pneus.asp

The tendency towards secrecy at the WTO jeopardizes the quality of decision-making, undermines the credibility of the WTO and contravenes core democratic values. The lack of transparency is particularly worrisome in cases where public health and the environment are at stake.
Background of Brazil--Retreaded Tires case:

The European Commission (EC) is challenging Brazil's ban on the importation of retreaded tires at the WTO. Brazil is defending its import ban on environmental and human health reasons.
Because Brazil already has a large amount of tire waste in its territory and considerable difficulties dealing with this waste, additional tire waste resulting from the import of retreaded tires would aggravate the environmental and public health risks associated to tire disposal. Tires contain highly combustible and polluting materials, and their incineration releases toxic gases, which contaminate soil, water and air. Tires also contribute to the propagation of tropical diseases as they provide breading grounds for mosquitoes that transmit serious diseases such as yellow fever, malaria, and in particular, "dengue," putting Brazil's citizens at risk and increasing public health costs.

For more information on the background of the case, see CIEL's Background Paper:
The Brazil - Retreaded Tires Case (March 2006)

For more information, contact:

• Marcos A. Orellana, morellana@ciel.org, or +1-202-785-8700