The United States continues to question whether the EU has conducted an adequate risk
assessment to support its position, and maintains there is a clear worldwide scientific consensus
supporting the safety to consumers of eating hormone-treated meat. In retaliation, starting in the
late 1980s, the United States imposed trade sanctions—as authorized by the WTO—in the form
of high import tariffs on selected EU agricultural products.
To further complicate matters, in October 2008, the WTO issued a mixed ruling that allows the
United States to continue its trade sanctions, but also allows the EU to maintain its ban. As a
result, the United States has continued to impose its trade sanctions, while the EU has continued
to maintain its ban. human