Argentina points finger at US, EU in trade row

(BUENOS AIRES) - Argentina dismissed complaints about its restrictive trade practices Saturday, accusing the United States and the European Union of being the "true" obstacles to free markets.

The foreign ministry said Argentina would keep in place barriers to imports that sparked complaints from Latin American countries, vowing not to yield to "external or internal pressure.

The foreign ministry's statement came a day after the United States, the EU and 11 other countries issued a joint statement at the World Trade Organization expressing "continuing and deepening concerns" about Argentine measures that restrict trade.

The foreign ministry shot back that more complaints and court cases have been brought against the United States and the EU than any of the WTO's 157 members.

It said that while there were 17 cases involving complaints against Argentina, there were 114 against the United States and 70 against the EU.

"The overwhelming difference shows who in reality WTO members consider are the true responsible parties impeding the normal development of international trade and the creation of a more just system," it said.

Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey joined the United States and the EU warning that measures taken by Buenos Aires were "adversely affecting imports into Argentina from a growing number of WTO members."

"We members who support this joint statement request that Argentina take immediate steps to address the concerns we have raised today," the statement said, reserving their right to pursue the matter further.