American Home also raised eyebrows by taking a $53 million charge to suspend shipments temporarily for Rotashield, its vaccine against the rotavirus.

Many had suspended or reduced shipments to Macy when it told them on Jan. 10 that it could not pay them.

Japan wants Britain to take back nuclear fuel shipped with such documents and Germany suspended new shipments of spent fuel.

"If it's still unresolved by the last week in August, I would certainly have to tell at least a couple of suppliers to suspend shipments."

In the meantime, the company has asked computer makers to suspend shipments of personal computers that use the chip.

The company, Bristol-Myers Squibb, said it would suspend shipments until the review was complete.

It has already suspended shipments to the area.

Washington responded by suspending shipments of fuel oil, which were provided under a 1994 understanding intended to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.

Roche suspended shipments in Canada this week.

Southern California Gas will suspend shipments to corporate customers, hoping to avert a shortage for residential use.