[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
