In a victory for environmentalists, the World Trade Organization is expected
to decide that banning asbestos does not break free trade rules. France bans all
asbestos as a health hazard. Canada, the world’s largest asbestos exporter,
insists it can be used safely, in which case France’s ban would be an
unjustified trade barrier
(New Scientist, 3 April 1999, p 51). But in a
confidential ruling leaked last week, scientists advising the WTO agreed that
all asbestos is carcinogenic. The ruling will mean that the EU can ban asbestos
in 2005, and will strengthen anti-asbestos campaigns in countries such as…
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