CWB vs WTO

[freenorth]

Steve Verhuel Canada's chief ag negotiatior has been making presentations stating that Canada will comply with the WTO and that the
CWB will have to make adjustments and has few if any allies when it comes to the CWB.

Canada will have to delink the CWB from government regarding the government guarantees to the CWB, CWB borrowings and CWB initial payment guarantees to name a few issues. There is also the issue of how the government would account for a provision regarding a default in the CWB bonds (some $6b). There is a good article on this on page 71 of the Dec 04 Top Crop Manager magazine by the chair of the Barley Growers.

Anyone figured out yet how the CWB will adjust to the new trading rules?

[boone]

May I suggest ankle gaurds might be in order.[:{)

[wd9]

By getting railcars for 1$.

[boone]

Yes Incognito that should be guards!

[boone]

wd9, your view is like that namesake tractor hard to steer, and a hard seat. What do you mean, didn't the FRCC end up with the cars?

[freenorth]

Actually this is a separate issue from the cars. How many $$$$ will the
CWB ask the federal government for to assist them with this transition
and will the federal government comply?

It may take more than ankle gaurds to protect them.

[Incognito]

I don't want to be the keeper of the red pen, Boone.

[wd9]

You're right Boone, this issue has nothing to do with ownership or control of infrastructure like the cars, just the guarantees. What was I thinking!

[boone]

????? Now I don't want to be accused of going soft on CWB, however; how come only American farmers can be patriotic here. Now some of you may have heard of Americon subsidies here (PL.480) public law 480 opened the door to grain giveaways all around the globe for the last 50 yep 50 years, they have had a half dozen different inducements to undermine the economies of developing worlds and play benevolent grand puba as they toil to straighten out their dowery fees for global miscegenations by plying food to the most recent keeper of the gate. But why do we as a unpatriot bunch of little pinheads always hold up our pathetic little machinations like they were somehow the equivalent. (sorry for the length) But why? What lies smoldering in our makeup that makes us so ready to be subservient???

[wd9]

Boone, your patriotism shines thru in your original answer.

The CWB will adjust no problem, they are after all a corporation. I'm thinking I'll have a harder time adjusting by paying for mistakes or perhaps paying the $6B back to Canadians as opposed to them being forgiven by the government guarantee.

Don't get me wrong, Canada has nothing to bring to the table that won't seriously hurt Canadian farmers, unlike other countries. The loss of the guarantee will only hurt us as wheat producers.

Does anyone think this is a good thing to producers? Please explain how.