Winnipeg - The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) denounces a preliminary ruling by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) which has imposed unfair tariffs on western Canadian wheat farmers because of subsidy allegations.
"It is surprising that the Americans -- with their own massive levels of farm support -- have said that Canadian wheat is unfairly subsidized," said CWB Chair and farmer-elected director Ken Ritter from Kindersley, SK. "Our wheat exports are not unfairly subsidized under any rule of international trade. This is harassment provoked by the success of western Canadian farmers in the U.S. marketplace."
According to the latest figures from the OECD, government support for wheat production in the U.S. is $108 per tonne, compared to $31 per tonne in Canada.
Tariffs on Canadian imports to the U.S. of 3.94 per cent on wheat and durum were announced today. The CWB sells an average of 1.5 million tonnes of wheat and durum, worth $360 million to $460 million, into the U.S. each year. This represents about 10 per cent of total sales. Due to a drought and weather problems at harvest that affected this year's grade pattern, Canadian exports to the U.S. from August to December 2002 were below average, amounting to 137 800 tonnes of spring wheat and 191 600 of durum (compared to 533 000 tonnes and 211 000 tonnes, respectively, for the same period last year).
"We are encouraged by the fact that the DOC has dismissed some of the subsidy allegations and that the preliminary tariffs have been set at a low level," added Ritter. "We believe that this preliminary ruling demonstrates that the case, as launched, is quite weak."
When the preliminary tariffs are applied later this month, the CWB will be open for business for its American customers. Those customers will make the determination whether the tariffs are prohibitive, a decision which will vary from buyer to buyer. The CWB will explore all available options to obtain the maximum return for the wheat and durum grown by western Canadian farmers.
The DOC is expected to make its final determination in July.
Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.
For more information, please contact:
The Canadian Wheat Board.
Well Tom your friends to the south have done it again.
It is time that Canada take a little tougher stance with the US. Maybe a $70.00/MT tariff on corn imports into Canada.
Trade wars do not work, but meekly taking your turn in the barrel doesn't work well either. Maybe a tarrif on energy shipped to the US. Beleive me folks we have nothing to loose.
When country of origin lableing is implemented the sheep and ostriches in Canada are in for a rude awakening.
"It is surprising that the Americans -- with their own massive levels of farm support -- have said that Canadian wheat is unfairly subsidized," said CWB Chair and farmer-elected director Ken Ritter from Kindersley, SK. "Our wheat exports are not unfairly subsidized under any rule of international trade. This is harassment provoked by the success of western Canadian farmers in the U.S. marketplace."
According to the latest figures from the OECD, government support for wheat production in the U.S. is $108 per tonne, compared to $31 per tonne in Canada.
Tariffs on Canadian imports to the U.S. of 3.94 per cent on wheat and durum were announced today. The CWB sells an average of 1.5 million tonnes of wheat and durum, worth $360 million to $460 million, into the U.S. each year. This represents about 10 per cent of total sales. Due to a drought and weather problems at harvest that affected this year's grade pattern, Canadian exports to the U.S. from August to December 2002 were below average, amounting to 137 800 tonnes of spring wheat and 191 600 of durum (compared to 533 000 tonnes and 211 000 tonnes, respectively, for the same period last year).
"We are encouraged by the fact that the DOC has dismissed some of the subsidy allegations and that the preliminary tariffs have been set at a low level," added Ritter. "We believe that this preliminary ruling demonstrates that the case, as launched, is quite weak."
When the preliminary tariffs are applied later this month, the CWB will be open for business for its American customers. Those customers will make the determination whether the tariffs are prohibitive, a decision which will vary from buyer to buyer. The CWB will explore all available options to obtain the maximum return for the wheat and durum grown by western Canadian farmers.
The DOC is expected to make its final determination in July.
Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.
For more information, please contact:
The Canadian Wheat Board.
Well Tom your friends to the south have done it again.
It is time that Canada take a little tougher stance with the US. Maybe a $70.00/MT tariff on corn imports into Canada.
Trade wars do not work, but meekly taking your turn in the barrel doesn't work well either. Maybe a tarrif on energy shipped to the US. Beleive me folks we have nothing to loose.
When country of origin lableing is implemented the sheep and ostriches in Canada are in for a rude awakening.
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