[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5733-S5734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 TRADE

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I rise today to address an issue of 
critical importance to the domestic lamb industry and to producers in 
my home state of Wyoming. In September 1998, a coalition of individuals 
from all segments of the U.S. lamb industry filed a Section 201 trade 
petition with the U.S. International Trade Commission under laws

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embedded in the Trade Act of 1974 and every trade act this nation has 
agreed to since that time.
  Our domestic industry filed this trade case in response to the 
surging, record-setting levels of imported lamb meat from Australia and 
New Zealand. These individuals, although representing different sectors 
of the U.S. lamb industry, collectively signed onto this legal battle 
because each entity has witnessed a drastic impact from lamb imports--
imports that increased nearly 50 percent between 1993 and 1997 and 
continue at an aggressive rate still today.
  Under a Section 201 petition, the International Trade Commission is 
required to conduct an investigation to confirm or dispel the claims 
asserted within the trade case. Twice the Commissioners heard arguments 
from both the domestic industry and the importers. Twice the 
Commissioners rejected the importers arguments. In both instances, the 
Commissioners voted unanimously--during the injury phase in February 
and again in March, when they recommended that the President impose 
some form of trade relief. The Commission's report, and the industry's 
trade case, now await a final determination by President Clinton.
  According to the Commission's report, wholesale imported lamb cuts 
consistently undercut the price of identical domestic cuts. Evidence of 
importers underselling domestically produced lamb was found in 79 
percent of the product-to-product comparisons with margins of 20 
percent to 40 percent. Other comparisons have found margin disparities 
reaching as high as 70 percent. It is evident that our domestic 
industry is suffering from the flood of cheap, imported lamb that has 
swamped the U.S. market and forced prices below break-even levels.
  Time is of the essence in this matter as President Clinton has until 
June 4, 1999, to render his decision on what trade relief, if any, to 
implement. It is important to remember that under our own trade laws, 
the requirement of demonstrating that imports are threatening serious 
injury to the domestic industry has been met. As a result, I urge the 
President to impose strong, effective and temporary trade relief. More 
importantly, I urge the President to act on behalf of our producers by 
seriously considering the undisputed facts outlined in the Commission's 
report.

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