Brussels, 15/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a report tabled on 13 November, the appeals body of the WTO rejected claims brought by the United States to the WTO in 2004 and confirmed that the Community customs administration regime is in line with the rules of the multilateral organisation which governs world trade. The appeals body confirmed that Washington had failed to provide proof that the EU's customs administration system contradicts the obligation of WTO members to guarantee the uniformity of their customs administration and the precise revision of administrative decisions. Furthermore, the report invalidates two or three concluded cases of infringements of WTO rules in the application of the customs regulations of the EU. The only infringement case confirmed by the appeals body was the specific and highly complicated case of tariff classifications. Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson immediately welcomed the decision, which "confirms that WTO members have the right to decide on the best way to organise their own administration, providing that they keep to the rules of the WTO". (eh)