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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A trade tribunal has rejected a Canadian company's challenge to California's ban on the gasoline additive MTBE under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Methanex Corp., which produces an MTBE component called methanol, had filed a $970 million claim against the United States under NAFTA six years ago. The Vancouver-based firm claimed the state ban was aimed at removing foreign competition for American makers of ethanol, a potential substitute for MTBE, or methyl tertiary-butyl ether. The U.S. State Department has not officially announced the ruling and declined to comment on the case, said spokesman Steven Pike....

California Environmental Law Challenged by Foreign Investors Using NAFTA; Methanex v. U.S. Hearing Open for Public Viewing June 7 To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor, Environment Reporter Contact: Martin Wagner of Earthjustice, 510-550-6700, Marcos Orellana of the Center for International Environmental Law, 202-785-8700, Howard Mann of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, 613-286-5383 News Advisory:WHO: Three-Member Arbitral Panel administered by ICSID (International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes)WHAT: Hearing in the case Methanex Corporation v. United States of AmericaWHERE: Ground Floor of the MC Building of the World Bank (adjacent to the Preston Auditorium), Entrance to broadcast will be the...

<p>An international trade tribunal has turned back a Canadian company's attempt to dilute California's environmental laws but given the firm a narrow chance to pursue its $1 billion claim.</p> <p>In a closely watched case, the North American Free Trade Agreement panel this week rejected claims by Methanex that California had broken international law by banning MTBE, a gasoline additive that was meant to help ease air pollution but ended up contaminating drinking water across the state.</p>