Senate Adds Steel, Produce to Sanctions Bill

The Senate, nearing a final vote on a package of sanctions against South Africa, added prohibitions today against the import of steel and agricultural produce from the white minority-ruled country.

Earlier, it had added a ban on South African textiles to a list of sanctions that already included prohibitions against importing uranium and coal.

The list also directs the immediate end to U.S. landing rights for South African Airways, a halt to new U.S. investment and bank loans and a bar against the import of products owned or controlled by the South African government.

It further outlines other sanctions that could be invoked a year from now if no progress is made toward dismantling South Africa’s system of racial separation, called apartheid.

Speakes Hints Renewal

As the Senate marched through a lengthy list of amendments and proposals, Larry Speakes, President Reagan’s chief spokesman, hinted that--despite his strong opposition to punitive measures against South Africa--the President is prepared to renew the limited sanctions he imposed last year and possibly to invoke new ones.

Speakes said he is unwilling to speculate on whether Reagan will veto whatever sanctions legislation eventually emerges from Congress after the House and Senate get together on a single version. The House-passed bill calls for a complete trade embargo and total U.S. divestiture in South Africa.

“The question is whether he will add additional sanctions to the sanctions,” Speakes told reporters.

“Clearly there are large numbers of members of the Senate who favor this sanctions bill,” Speakes said. “But that does not indicate that we’ve dropped or lessened our opposition to sanctions.”