Flashback: Clinton Retaliates Against Japan Whaling

[Cetacea]

ABC News:

President Bill Clinton banned Japan from future access to fishing rights in U.S. waters today and threatened economic sanctions if it does not curtail an expanded hunt on whales.

The action was in response to Japan’s decision in July to expand its whale hunt to include Bryde’s and sperm whales, which have been safe from harpoons for years and are protected by U.S. law. Japanese whaling had previously been limited to minke whales.

“I hope that the steps we take today will encourage Japan to reverse its actions and respect the strong international consensus that has helped bring back some of Earth’s most majestic creatures,” Clinton said in a statement.

Denial of Future Allotments

Clinton ordered that Japan be denied access to allotments for fishing in U.S. waters. There is currently no foreign fishing in U.S. waters, but new allotments for foreign fishing in these waters are expected to be approved later this year.

Unless Japan rolls back its whaling program, it will be banned from consideration for access, Commerce Secretary Norman Mineta said.

Officials were also studying whether to stop foreign vessels who sell export seafood to Japan from fishing in U.S. waters.

“We’re hopeful that the Japanese government will heed the protests of the international community and reverse its action,” said White House Chief of Staff John Podesta.

International Whaling Protections

Mineta formally certified that Japan’s actions were undermining international whaling protections. He said the certification would trigger a 60-day process to consider trade sanctions against Japan.

The president was also directing several cabinet secretaries to consider additional actions the United States could take.

Podesta and Mineta, briefing reporters at the White House, would not elaborate on what Japanese exports could be considered for sanctions, but other officials said they would include seafood..."






Full article:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=119953&page=1