Tracknum: .000f01bee69c.1aa59b20.3344bed1
Pubdate: Sat, 14 Aug 1999
Source: Reuters
Copyright: 1999 Reuters Limited.

US SAID MULLING ADDING CANADA TO DRUG-COUNTRY LIST

TORONTO, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Canada could be added to a list of
drug-trafficking and producing countries compiled by the United States in
an effort to push it into taking a harder stance on the war against drugs,
a newspaper said on Saturday.

Citing unnamed U.S. sources, the Globe and Mail said the U.S. State
Department's Narcotics and Law Enforcement Division was poised to add
Canada to the list because "it is not taking the war on drugs seriously
enough.''

The State Department report would first be reviewed by Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright who would decide whether to make the recommendation to
President Bill Clinton, who is expected to make a decision by November.

The newspaper said its sources suggested that Mexico, still hurting from
being added to the list last year, has been pushing for Canada's inclusion
to the list.

The list names 28 countries, including China, India, Hong Kong, Pakistan
and a number of Latin American countries, and tracks nations that the U.S.
government believes to be involved in growing and shipping narcotics to the
United States.

Of particular concern to the United States is the rising rate of marijuana
being grown in Canada, particularly British Columbia.

According to a Royal Canadian Mounted Police report cited by the Globe and
Mail, about 800 tons of the drug was produced in Canada in 1998. A large
percentage of it made its way across the border to the United States.

Countries on the list face a number of sanctions including denial of
various financing programs sponsored by the United States.