NAFTA PANEL CONFIRMS CANADA IS FAIR TRADER IN WHEAT

A NAFTA panel has found that imports of Canadian hard red spring wheat caused no injury to United States wheat producers.

In 2003, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) imposed a 14.15 per cent tariff on imports to the U.S. of Canadian hard red spring wheat.

The NAFTA panel ruled in Canada's favour and found that the ITC failed to adequately prove a connection between Canadian wheat imports and material injury to U.S. producers. The ITC was remanded by the panel for its selective analysis of the data and for ignoring contradictory evidence. It has 90 days to reconsider its original injury determination.

"We have always maintained that Canada was a fair trader in wheat," Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. "Now, for the fourteenth time, an independent bi-national appeal panel under NAFTA has again concluded we are a fair trader."

"In light of the NAFTA panel ruling, we fully expect the ITC to reconsider the unwarranted 14.15 per cent tariff as soon as possible," Wartman said.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture and Food Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031