Termination by the European Commission of proceedings to investigate trade barriers - application for compensation by EC exporters adversely affected by U.S. surcharge authorized by WTO - legality of selective sanctioning by the United States

Lavranos presents the ruling of the European Court of First Instance (CFI) in Federation des industries condimentaires de France v. Commission. He comments that the case presented the European Court with its first opportunity to review the Trade Barriers Regulation of the European Community, thereby establishing the extent to which industry is able to initialize indirectly a WTO dispute settlement procedure. Lavranos infers that the CFI's interpretation of "adverse trade effects" shows an unnecessary hurdle for individual complainants by requiring them to explain in considerable, causal detail that they have actually suffered adverse trade effects from illegal trade obstacles.