Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 14, 1994                   TAG: 9404140370
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

MARRAKESH, Morocco - The United States and European Union reached an agreement on government contracts Wednesday that would open up new market opportunities worth $200 billion a year for contractors on both sides of the Atlantic.

The deal will include access for EU companies to business from 39 states, including the five largest, and seven cities, including Boston, Chicago and Detroit.

The deal will not, however, cover telecommunications in the EU, nor will it be extended to contracts involving mass transit, airport or certain aspects of the U.S. federal highway program.

U.S. officials said the deal probably would provide $500 million a year in business opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic for construction at ports and airports. Washington has offered to remove restrictive bidding practices at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Massachusetts Port Authority in Boston and the Port of Baltimore.

U.S. officials said they want dollar-for-dollar reciprocal opportunities at EU ports and airports, but specific offers from Brussels have not yet been made.

- Journal of Commerce

Teamsters say they'll compromise

The Teamsters' strike against less-than-truckload carriers enters its ninth day today with the first sign of compromise and tough questions being asked about the depth of each side's pockets and the walkout's long-term impact on the industry.

In a shift from its earlier position, the union said Wednesday it would compromise on a four-year contract management has demanded. The union has been seeking a three-year pact. The union said it also would compromise on increased flexibility to put freight on rail if they could win assurances of job protection for over-the-road drivers.

Neither the union nor struck carriers would pinpoint how long they could stick to their guns, but both sides claimed to have enough resources to prolong the dispute for weeks if they choose.

- Journal of Commerce