U.S. ruling on lamb ‘a rout’

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 9

U.S. ruling on lamb ‘a rout’

PA Wellington The United States International Trade Commision’s rule that three United States producers are not harmed by imports of frozen lamb is a “rout,” according to the New Zealand Lamb Company, Inc., in New York. The Executive’s vicepresident, Mr Graeme Lindsay, said at the week-end that the commission had voted four to two in rejecting the case of the American, Denver and lowa Lamb Companies against New Zealand sheepmeat on the ground that there was inadequate proof the plaintiffs were being injured by the subsidies and imports. “It would not be too wrong to say that this is a rout,” Mr Lindsay told the “Evening Post.” However, he emphasied it did not stop any other company laying a separate complaint — nor did it shield New Zealand’s agricultural subsidies. In April, the American Lamb Company filed a complaint with the commission alleging that New Zealand was hurting United States producers by subsidising its lamb meat exports and selling them in the United States below fair market value.

The decision reverses the 1981 vote on a similar comS’ ' t by United States interests. The only course for appeal is on technical grounds or impropriety and Mr Lindsay said it was highly unlikely an appeal on those grounds would be lodged. In 1983, the last year for which there are figures, New Zealand exported SUSI9.I million (about $29.4 million) worth of fresh, chilled or frozen lamb to the United States, or roughly 85 per cent of all lamb imports.