[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 2000)]
[Page 3097]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on International Trade Commission Action Against Gray Market 
Cigarettes

December 15, 2000

    Today I am allowing the U.S. International Trade Commission's 
exclusion order and cease and desist order regarding certain Brown & 
Williamson cigarettes (ITC Case Number 337-TA-424) to stand. Together 
with the legislation (Public Law 106-476) that I signed on November 9, 
2000, these orders will ensure that no so-called gray market cigarettes 
are imported into the United States--including not only the two brands 
covered under the ITC orders but all brands of gray market cigarettes as 
provided in the November legislation. In the same way that the report 
language for the November legislation made clear that it was in no way 
intended to alter current policies with respect to other gray market 
goods, I want to make clear that my allowing these orders to take effect 
should not be interpreted as setting a precedent for the treatment of 
other gray market goods.