Asbestos and Shrimp / Turtle 'Amicus Curiae' Briefs

FIELD collaborated with WWF International to submit a series of amicus curiae briefs in the "Shrimp-Turtle" dispute in 1997/8. This dispute was brought against the US by Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand for their ban on the import of shrimps caught by foreign shrimpers who don't use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs). The US were concerned about the effects that shrimping was having on marine turtles, an endangered species, whilst the complainant countries were concerned that they were having discriminatory trade measures bought against them.

FIELD also collaborated with a group of NGOs in the fight between Europe and Canada over a French ban on the import of cancer-causing asbestos in 2001. The brief was submitted by FIELD on behalf of Greenpeace International, Ban Asbestos, IBAS (International Ban Asbestos Secretariat) and WWF International.

Click here to view the WWF Amicus Brief to WTO - Shrimp-Turtle Dispute.