AAEI PRAISES REJECTION OF PROPOSED TARIFF-RATE QUOTA ON IMPORTED SYRUP

AAEI PRAISES REJECTION OF PROPOSED TARIFF-RATE QUOTA ON IMPORTED SYRUP    The American Association of Exporters and Importers praised Rep. Philip M. Crane R-Ill. of the House Ways and Means Committee for his effort to prevent a tariff-rate quota from being placed on maple syrup importers.
   Sen. John Breaux, D-La., of the Senate Finance Committee, had attempted to attach a tariff-rate quota on the maple syrup importers as a rider to the African trade legislation.
   The New York-based industry group, which represents hundreds of the country’s importers and exporters, said the rider’s principal target was Heartland By-Products Inc., a small sugar refinery in Taylor, Mich., which recently won a case in the Court of International Trade.
   The court struck down Customs’ attempt to reverse a 1995 ruling issued to Heartland and to subject syrup imported by the company to a tariff-rate quota.
   “The proposed rider would, if it were to be added to any future legislation, be bad law and bad policy, and its repercussions would extend far beyond Heartland,” AAEI said.
   The group also cited conflicts the rider would have with the Uruguay Round and U.S. agricultural shippers. “It invites our trading partners to retaliate against us,” the group said.