Ruling may reopen U.S. apple trade to Japan

A World Trade Organization panel appears likely to rule that Japan has failed to comply with earlier WTO rulings striking down phytosanitary barriers against apple imports from the United States. The new ruling could pave the way for apple shipments from Washington and Oregon, the only states with workplans for Japan.

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Additional information from All About Apples:
This dispute has been ongoing since 2002 and is based on fears in Japan that exported apples would lead to fireblight issues in their country.

Official documentation on the dispute from the WTO website

Other online articles highlighting the history of this dispute.

May 2002

July 2003

November 2003

July 2004