EU lifts sanctions against Norway salmon

OSLO, Norway, July 18 (UPI) -- The European Union lifted sanctions against Norway's salmon exports, claiming the punitive duties imposed were never used anyway.

"The market price has never been as low as the minimum price, so the measure has never been used," said EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, Aftenposten reported Friday.

The dispute between the EU and Norway's fishing industry has been going on for 20 years, the report said.

Norway, eventually, filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, which came up with a split decision in December 2007, siding with Norway on 22 points of the disagreement and with the EU on 15 points.

Both sides declared victory in the dispute, the report said.

"I'm very pleased. This shows that we were right to take the matter to the WTO," said Norway's Fisheries Minister Helga Pedersen.

"We hope that this case will make accusations of price-dumping against Norwegian fish exporters less likely in future. We are however aware that the EU will be monitoring the Norwegian market closely in future," she said.