GENEVA - The World Trade Organization ruled Thursday that Japan's import barriers to U.S. apples are illegal, bringing closer the possibility of U.S. trade sanctions. Japan claims importing U.S. apples would expose Japan to fire blight, a bacterial disease. But the WTO panel found that Japan's import procedures for U.S. apples lacked "scientific evidence" and were disproportionately trade-restrictive. The WTO found Japan's apple restrictions in violation of international trade agreements in December 2003, but gave the country time to adjust its legislation. Japan changed its procedures, but the United States claimed it was still acting illegally went back to the...