Argentina plots legal action for damages from subsidies

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Buenos Aires, Dec 11 (EFE).- Argentina plans to sue for the trade losses it has suffered as a result of rich nations' agricultural subsidies when a WTO "truce" on the issue expires, the government said Thursday.

Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna said his country "will go the distance" in asking the World Trade Organization to sanction nations that subsidize their farmers, such as the United States and the members of the European Union.

Lavagna's comments came at a seminar on the quality of Argentine foodstuffs. He said the food sector would play "a very active role" in both the WTO negotiations and "the concrete and specific defense" of Argentine trade interests.

Argentina, one of the world's largest producers of grains, livestock and other farm products, has suffered close to $6 billion in annual export losses as a result of rich nations' agicultural subsidies, according to both official and private estimates.

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