Media release
Australian Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile
August 01, 1999
US Transitional Arrangements On Lamb Announced
Trade Minister Mark Vaile announced today that the US Administration has agreed to measures sought by Australia to assist in transition to the new regime of restraints on lamb imports.
Mr Vaile said President Clinton had agreed that the new nine per cent tariff to be applied to lamb exports would not be levied on product shipped before the quota implementation date of 22 July - the date on which the US measures came into effect.
"This means that approximately 720 tonnes of lamb worth $5 million currently being shipped to the US will not be affected by the new tariff measures," Mr Vaile said.
"President Clinton has also agreed that the US will cooperate with Australia in administering an export certificate scheme which will help to avoid a rush to fill the quota at the beginning of each year. This will provide exporters with greater certainty in their marketing plans over the course of each year", Mr Vaile said
"This is a small but not insignificant victory for Australia. I would add, of course, that we have made clear to the US that while assistance with this measure is appreciated, our position on the restraints remains unchanged and is as strong as ever. That is why we are pressing on with dispute settlement proceedings in the World Trade Organisation."
Mr Vaile also noted that from today New South Wales farmers had commenced a month of protest at the US Embassy in Canberra.
"The protest action reflects the sense of real frustration from Australian farmers with this unfair and unjust decision by the US. 1 want to reaffirm the Government's commitment to working with the industry in the WTO as well as through the lamb industry development program announced by the Government two weeks ago."
Mr Vaile said he would be speaking further with lamb farmers at the Lamb Industry Convention in Sydney tomorrow.