Four influential senators have written [$] to the French Ambassador to express their displeasure at France’s ongoing restrictions on genetically modified (GM) corn, warning that the issue could spark litigation.

America and the European Union have been at loggerheads over GM foods for years now, culminating in a dragged-out WTO dispute (summary available here) that was resolved with a partial-loss for the EU because they took too long to make a decision on allowing certain products into the european market, and because the EU didn’t base some of their restrictions on scientific evidence, as required under WTO rules. Now the victorious parties, including the United States, Canada and Argentina, are waiting for practical resolution and for trade to start flowing.

The French, however, are continuing to resist approving products made from agricultural biotechnology, ostensibly in the face of public opposition to the foods. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has spoken publicly in support of a ban on growing GM crops in France, and the French yesterday proposed scrapping the current EU approval process for genetically modified organisms in favour of tougher standards.

Enter the senators, who see what tougher restrictions would mean for GM-happy American farmers and are incensed at what they see as a flouting of trade rules. Ironically, among them is Saxby Chambliss (R‑GA) who favors the continuing support of American cotton growers, even in the face of WTO rebukes for the manner in which that support is delivered. Similarly, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D‑MT) has refused to countenance passing any trade deals unless and until he gets his way on trade adjustment assistance (you can see what I think of his ideas for TAA here).

Senator Obama isn’t the only member of that august chamber with two faces on trade.