The European Union executive asked the World Trade Organization on Monday to rule that it was illegal for the United States and Canada to retain sanctions on EU exports to counter the bloc's ban on hormone-treated beef.
The EU's ban on beef treated with growth hormones -- despite agreements that each side recognizes the other's food as safe -- has long been a thorn in the side of transatlantic food trade ties.
The U.S. sanctions apply to a variety of EU exports, such as Roquefort cheese, mustard, truffles, French hams and soups worth $116.8 million a year. Canada's sanctions are worth $9.5 million a year.
"There is no reason why European companies should continue to be targeted by sanctions when they export to Canada and the United States," EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said in a statement.
"The EU ban on certain growth promoting hormones is now in full respect of our international obligations," he added.
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