U.S. GOVT TO STAND UP FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IN TRADE WAR

     The Clinton Administration is planning to take formal action
against Canada on behalf of American magazine publishers, notably
Time Warner's Sports Illustrated.  U.S. trade sanctions against
Canada would be over tax policies the U.S. argues is a form of
"barrier against the American magazine industry."  The dispute
involves an 80% excise tax imposed on SI Canadian editions since
the largely U.S. content is backed by revenue from Canadian
advertisers.  SI spokesperson Peter Costiglio said they "commend"
what the U.S. Trade Rep and government are doing.  SI has stopped
publication in Canada and no longer solicits ads from Canadian
groups (Richard Stevenson, N.Y. TIMES, 3/11).