U.S. Agrees to Abide by Gas Import Ruling

WASHINGTON — The Clinton administration notified the World Trade Organization on Wednesday that it will abide by the tribunal’s rejection of U.S. environmental regulations on imported gasoline.

Acting U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky announced that the administration will examine “any and all options” for bringing U.S. regulations into compliance following the adverse WTO ruling in a case brought by Brazil and Venezuela.

The South American nations had argued in their WTO case that they were losing $300 million to $500 million in gasoline export sales to the United States because clean air regulations formulated by the Environmental Protection Agency unfairly discriminated against foreign gasoline.

A WTO hearing panel ruled in favor of the two countries in January, and the decision was upheld by an appeals panel in April. The United States then had 60 days to decide whether to change its environmental regulations or pay compensation to the two countries.