US threatens Japan whaling sanctions

The United States is threatening to take action against Japan over its refusal to abide by the international moratorium on whaling.

The argument that these whales must be killed to collect scientific data is preposterous

Norman Mineta

President Clinton's Commerce Secretary, Norman Mineta, says a decision will be made soon about whether to impose trade sanctions against Tokyo.

The Japanese have recently announced plans to kill 10 sperm whales and 50 Bryde's whales in the North Pacific.

At the moment Japan only catches minke whales.

Commercial whaling is banned, but Japan continues to kill more than 400 minke whales a year for "scientific research" purposes.

In an article for the Washington Post, Mr Mineta said Japan was acting in defiance of international appeals and was putting in jeopardy the worldwide ban on commercial whaling introduced in 1986.

"The Japanese argument that all of these whales must be killed in order to collect certain scientific data is preposterous," Mr Mineta wrote.

Meat or science?

"Another alarming factor is that the whale meat from this hunt finds its way to Japanese fish markets and restaurant menus," he added.

Norman Mineta: Whale meat goes to fish markets

Because Japan had chosen to ignore US and other diplomatic approaches, Mr Mineta said, the Clinton administration was considering options including trade measures under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967.

This threat has been made because Japanese "scientific" whaling has threatened to undermine the whole 1986 commercial whaling ban, in the commerce secretary's view.

"The expansion of the Japanese hunt to larger whales is aimed at paving the way for an outright resumption of commercial whaling," he said.