U.S. holds off trade sanctions against Iceland for whale killings

U.S. holds off trade sanctions against Iceland for whale killings    The Bush administration said it would hold off imposing trade sanctions against Iceland for its killing of whales for scientific purposes.
   Iceland began the program in 2003 and said it planned to take 250 minke, fin, and sei whales for research purposes. The project has been criticized as “questionable” by the United States and 22 other countries, which support the International Whaling Commission conservation program.
   President Bush has directed U.S. delegations to Iceland to press for an end to the whale killings. “I believe these diplomatic efforts hold the most promise of effecting change in Iceland’s research whaling program, and don not believe that imposing import prohibitions would further our objectives,” said Bush in a letter to Congress Tuesday.