320. Letter From Secretary of Commerce Baldrige to Secretary of State Shultz1
Under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967, 22 U.S.C. §1978 (1983 Supp.), I have certified to the President that nationals of Norway are conducting whaling operations that diminish the effectiveness of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) conservation program.2
The Pelly Amendment provides that upon receipt of such certification the President may direct the Secretary of the Treasury to prohibit the importation into the United States of some or all fish products from this country. The Department of Commerce is developing trade recommendations on fish import prohibitions to be forwarded to the [Page 897] President. The Pelly Amendment also provides that, within 60 days following the receipt of such certification the President must notify the Congress of any action he takes regarding the certification, and must inform the Congress of the reasons for any such action that falls short of prohibiting the importation of all fish products from this country.
I recommend that the Department of State promptly notify the Government of Norway of the certification3 and that officials of our two Departments remain in close consultation as sanction recommendations are developed.
Sincerely,
- Source: Department of State, Dumping; Arctic; Whaling; Antarctic; Scientific Research, 1976–1987, Lot 94D419, Whaling—Norway 1985–86. No classification marking.↩
- See footnote 8, Document 318.↩
- In telegram 3625 from Oslo, June 9, the Embassy reported on a conversation with Norwegian officials regarding the certification. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D860443–0768)↩