US: A sad day for lamb industry says Aussie meat boss

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-1999
US: A sad day for lamb industry says Aussie meat boss

The senior representative of the Australian meat industry in North America says the threat
of new restrictions on Australian lamb sales in the US is unexpected and unfortunate.

US trade regulators have backed US lamb producers seeking to curb surging imports -- mostly
from Australia and New Zealand -- which they say are threatening their livelihood.

The International Trade Commission will now hold a hearing on February 25 to consider what
penalties -- including tariffs or quotas -- should be imposed on lamb imported into the US.

It will then be up to US President BILL CLINTON to decide what remedy will be imposed based
on the commission's recommendations.

FRANCES CASSIDY, head of Meat and Livestock Australia, says there's still hope that the US
government can be persuaded not to curb imports from down under.

Meat and Livestock Australia will argue its case in a submission to be handed to the
commission on February 18.

AAP RTV dp/et/mfh/rt/jn

KEYWORD: LAMB AUST (LOS ANGELES)

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