U.S. trade rep feels snubbed in Brussels

BRUSSELS, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. trade representative felt snubbed Monday when European Union environmental commissioner Stavros Dimas failed to meet her in Brussels, a report says.

A spokeswoman said that Dimas had a prior engagement. Dimas, who has rejected plantings of two genetically modified, or GM, crops previously approved by EU regulators, had a speaking engagement in London, the spokeswoman said.

The snub surprised U.S. officials. In response, Trade Representative Susan Schwab sent the commissioner a note, she said in a report filed by the All Financial Times.

France, Austria and Hungary have prohibited GM planting, which Schwab has labeled "protectionism." "We have been dismayed at a variety of suggestions where we see climate or the environment being used as an excuse to close markets," she said after France banned GM planting last week.

Dimas' role is to ensure that European governments comply with EU laws when approving new crops.