OT on black sheep: Mq, your jawboning from the "bully-pulpit must be taking hold:
Monday June 7, 5:55 pm Eastern Time
Clinton still mulling lamb import decision -- USTR
By Doug Palmer
WASHINGTON, June 7 (Reuters) - U.S. lamb producers were still waiting on Monday to find out whether U.S. President Bill Clinton would come to their aid by restricting imports from Australia and New Zealand.
''The decision is still under review,'' said Jay Ziegler, a spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representative's Office. ''Up until the point the president announces the decision, that's where it stands.''
The U.S. lamb industry had expected Clinton to announce his decision by the end of last week. But Clinton, who has been preoccupied with trying to secure a peace agreement in Yugoslavia, missed that deadline.
Clinton is now expected to announce his decision on lamb imports on Tuesday, an Australian government aide said.
Earlier this year the U.S. International Trade Commission voted 6-0 that low-priced lamb imports from Australia and New Zealand threatened the domestic industry.
The trade panel also unanimously recommended Clinton impose four years of import restraints.
Australia and New Zealand supply all but a tiny fraction of U.S. lamb imports. The two countries shipped about $140 million of lamb meat to the United States in 1998.
Both countries say U.S. import restrictions would be unjustified since neither subsidizes its lambs. It would also tarnish the United States' reputation as a free-trade champion, the two countries say.
Cathy Cummins, a spokeswoman for the American Sheep Industry Association, said many of her group's members are getting anxious.
''A lot of sheep producers across the country are calling in'' to see if there has been a decision, Cummins said.
Nearly 69,000 sheep ranches were operating in the United States in 1998, down 5 percent from 1997 and 10 percent from 1996, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. |
