[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20650]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 23, 1994]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

 

Resolution of Complaint of Price-Undercutting of Subsidized 
Cheese Imports

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of Resolution of Complaint of Price-Undercutting of 
Subsidized Cheese Imports.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
providing notice that the European Commission and the Government of 
Austria have provided the necessary assurances that the duty-paid 
wholesale price of imported Swiss or Emmentaler cheese produced in 
Austria, Denmark and Germany will not be less than the domestic 
wholesale market price of similar articles produced in the United 
States.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Elizabeth Haines, Senior Economist, 
Office of Agricultural Affairs (202) 395-3077, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 27, 1994, the United States Trade 
Representative received a letter from the Acting Secretary of 
Agriculture informing him of the Acting Secretary's finding that 
imported subsidized quota Swiss or Emmentaler cheese produced in 
Austria, Denmark and Germany is undercutting the wholesale price of 
Swiss cheese produced and sold in the United States. During the 
investigation period of December 1993 through April 1994, the average 
duty-paid wholesale price was $1.55 per pound, $1.56 per pound, and 
$1.12 per pound of blocks of Swiss or Emmentaler cheese imported from 
Austria, Denmark, and Germany, respectively, compared to the average 
domestic wholesale market price of $1.76 per pound of blocks of Swiss 
cheese produced in the United States. During the same period, the 
average duty-paid wholesale price was $1.80 per pound and $1.69 per 
pound for cuts, slices, loaves, etc., imported from Denmark and 
Germany, respectively, compared to the average domestic wholesale 
market price of $1.85 per pound for cuts, slices, loaves, etc., of 
Swiss cheese produced in the United States. Also during the period of 
investigation, the average duty-paid wholesale price was $1.37 per 
pound for trims and end pieces imported from Austria compared to $1.54 
from trims and end pieces produced in the United States.
    On June 29, in accordance with section 702(c)(2) of the Trade 
Agreements Act of 1979 (the Act) (19 U.S.C. 1202 note), the Office of 
the United States Trade Representative notified the European Commission 
and the Government of Austria of the price-undercutting determination 
made by the Acting Secretary of Agriculture, requested that corrective 
action be taken, and asked for appropriate assurances concerning the 
commitments made in the Arrangement Between the United States and 
Austria Concerning Cheeses, and the Arrangement Between the United 
States and the European Union Concerning Cheeses.
    On July 11, the Government of Austria notified the United States 
Trade Representative that measures have been taken to ensure that the 
duty-paid wholesale price of imported Swiss or Emmentaler cheese 
produced in Austria will not be less than the domestic wholesale market 
price of similar cheese produced in the United States. On July 14, the 
European Commission notified the United States Trade Representative 
that measures have been taken to ensure that the duty-paid wholesale 
price of imported Swiss or Emmentaler cheese produced in the European 
Union will not be less than the domestic wholesale market price of 
similar cheese produced in the United States.
    In addition, the European Commission and the Government of Austria 
gave assurances that they will respect the price commitments in the 
Arrangement. Since the above notifications by the European Commission 
and the Government of Austria have occurred within the 15-day period 
provided in section 702(c)(3) of the Act, no further action is required 
pursuant to section 702.
Michael Kantor,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 94-20650 Filed 8-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M