canada

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Wednesday it was taking Canada to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over what it said was tax discrimination against imports of wine and beer.

"The EU plans to ask Canada to explain measures which provide tax relief to Canadian wine and beer but not to that imported from the EU," the Commission said in a statement.

The Commission made a similar move against India a week ago over its high tariffs and taxes on wine and spirits imports.

Canadian International Trade Minister David Emerson said he was "a little surprised" by the EU's actions because Ottawa felt the taxes were consistent with those imposed on foreign alcohol by countries such as Germany and France.