9:25 AM
The Government has confirmed it has received an interim report from the World Trade Organisation on US restrictions on our lamb exports.
The contents of the report are confidential, however it is understood that the WTO has ruled in favour of New Zealand and Australia.
President Clinton imposed restrictions on lamb imports last year at the request of the hard-pressed American sheep industry.
A spokesman for Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton says the report was received yesterday.
However it is subject to appeal, and will not be made public until December.
Peter Orwick of the American Sheep Industry Association says he has had the WTO ruling confirmed by US officials.
He says his organisation will urge the US government to appeal, and in the meantime all the trade restrictions remain in place.
- IRN
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