In October 2002, the European Oilseed Alliance filed a complaint under Article 3 of the Trade Barriers Regulation (TBR) of the European Council, against the effects of US oilseed marketing loans.

Between 1999 and 2002, the United States implemented a series of measures that created marketing loan subsidies for American oilseed production. These subsidies led to an increase in U.S. oilseed production, as well as to a European oilseed price suppression and a decrease in acreage in the EU. In turn, the EU had to import more oilseed.

This US policy constituted an obstacle to trade in violation of the European Union’s international trade rights.