FYI . . .

Honey Industry Receives Sweet News From U.S. Government

WASHINGTON, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Domestic honey producers applauded
yesterday's announcement by the Department of Commerce that imports of honey
from Argentina will now be subject to a 7% tariff upon arrival in the United
States.

The preliminary determination by Commerce is intended to offset the benefits
granted to the honey industry by the government of Argentina through various
subsidy programs that Commerce has found in violation of U.S. and
international fair trade rules. The 7% tariff, known as a countervailing
duty, will be calculated based on the total value of the honey imports as
they come into port.

Commerce began its investigation on September 29, 2000, when representatives
of the U.S. honey industry filed a formal unfair trade action that charged
Argentina with excessive government subsidization of its honey industry.
Further, according to the petition filed by the American Honey Producers
Association (AHPA) and the Sioux Honey Association (SHA), this action by the
government of Argentina resulted in market distortions that materially
injured the U.S. honey producers.

"We are delighted with Commerce's finding that the government of Argentina
has unfairly subsidized its honey producers," said AHPA President Richard
Adee. "The imposition of offsetting duties on new imports of honey from
Argentina will help bring the U.S. market price for honey up to where our
members can again make a profit."

SHA President Jerry Probst echoed Adee. "Our association and members are
gratified by Commerce's preliminary decision on Argentina's unfair subsidy
practices. These practices enable their honey producers to dominate our
market with below cost pricing. We are counting on the U.S. government and
our unfair trade laws to save this important American industry," said Probst.

Commerce will now begin the final phase of its countervailing duty
investigation, which will result in the issuance of a final duty.
Concurrently, the International Trade Commission will begin the final phase
of its injury investigation. Typically, final determinations from both
agencies are issued 12 to 14 months after the original filing.

In the same unfair trade action, AHPA and SHA charged Argentina and China
with shipping huge amounts of unfairly traded, low priced honey into the
American market, a practice known as "dumping." Commerce will issue its
preliminary determination in the dumping investigations by May 4, 2001.

The Washington, D.C. law firm of Collier Shannon Scott, PLLC, represents AHPA
and SHA, along with Georgetown Economic Services, the firm's economic
consulting subsidiary. International trade attorney Michael J. Coursey, a
partner at Collier Shannon, heads the legal and economic team.

SOURCE  American Honey Producers Association and Sioux Honey Association