51.   U.S. consumers and U.S. manufacturers using foreign components will benefit from cheaper Asian imports, and that will dampen the risk of inflation, he said.

52.   Weak demand and competition from cheaper imports also forced domestic makers to cut prices.

53.   While consumers are waiting for cheaper Asian imports to hit the shelves, they can sit back and watch their incomes rise.

54.   With fierce competition from cheaper imports from Australia and New Zealand, where grass grows year round and the industry is subsidized, sheep ranching has always been difficult.

55.   With the increase in cheaper imports and weak consumer demand, Japan is experiencing deflation.

56.   Yet the Asian financial crisis seems certain to dampen American exports and bring a flood of cheaper imports, forcing many companies to hold down prices.

57.   Although China agreed to drop bans on U.S. wheat and citrus even without membership, farmers were spared for now from competing with other cheaper imports.

58.   ASEAN nations says the West accuses the East of low labor and environmental standards as an excuse to keep its cheaper imports out.

59.   Both countries say cheaper imports will wreck their domestic markets and jeopardize the livelihoods of millions of farmers.

60.   But declining output and cheaper imports from countries such as Australia and China have hurt profits and forced companies to shutter their mines.