US taking time on lamb ruling

BY PAULA OLIVER

The United States yesterday indicated it would comply with a World Trade Organisation finding that it illegally imposed higher tariffs on New Zealand lamb.

But it gave no indication of when it would get rid of the offending tariffs.

In a formal response to the WTO ruling, the United States said it needed a "reasonable amount of time" to evaluate its options.

Meat New Zealand chairman Jeff Grant last night said that although it was good to receive the required response from the United States, it was too early for rejoicing.

The tariffs were still in place and the meat industry continued to incur the cost of them until the US Administration removed them.

In May, the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body threw out a United States appeal against a December ruling on the illegality of the higher lamb tariffs.

Mr Grant said there was no time for further procrastination.

"The DSB's findings were overwhelmingly in favour of New Zealand's and Australia's complaint that the US lamb tariffs breached its WTO obligations," he said.

"We expect the United States Administration to act quickly to remove them."