Contact: Scott Smullen             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                   10/10/97

Recent statements in the foreign press have suggested that the United States has changed its position and approves of Norway's whaling. This is not the case. The United States remains firmly opposed to commercial whaling.

"Though we have made our position clear, I am pleased to reiterate it," said D. James Baker, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and the U.S. commissioner to the International Whaling Commission. "Make no mistake. The United States remains deeply opposed to Norwegian whaling."

The IWC voted in 1982 to establish a moratorium on commercial whaling, to become effective in 1986. At the time, Norway lodged a formal objection to the moratorium decision, which it still maintains. Nonetheless, it voluntarily stopped commercial whaling after 1986. The United States has never disputed that Norway is not technically bound by the moratorium. The United States continues to believe, however, that Norway should abide by the moratorium, which reflects the international will regarding commercial whaling.

Although it stopped whaling in the late 1980s, Norway resumed commercial whaling for minke whales in 1993. In response, the late Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown certified Norway under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen's Protective Act, a move that authorizes the President to impose trade measures against Norway. In his Report to Congress on this matter (Oct. 4, 1993), President Clinton concluded that sanctions are justified, but he delayed implementation of those sanctions until all good faith efforts to persuade Norway to follow agreed conservation measures have been exhausted. Those efforts are continuing.