06/15/05 Canadian spring wheat import tariffs

06/15/05 Canadian spring wheat import tariffs

Farm and Ranch June 15, 2005 A NAFTA panel recently remanded back to the U.S. International Trade Commission its 2003 determination that affirmed tariffs on imports of hard red spring wheat from Canada. The NAFTA panel called on the ITC to correct nine specific faults it had identified. Canadian Wheat Board officials are calling the NAFTA panel's move a decisive victory, but Jim Peterson, Marketing Director for the North Dakota Wheat Commission, says not so fast. Peterson: "There are a couple of issues that are to be re-examined but the bulk of them seem to be more of a further explanation. So, it is a far cry from a victory as the Canadians are touting." Here's what President and CEO of the Canadian Wheat Board Adrian Measner is saying. Measner: "We think as they move through those questions they will have no choice but to remove the tariffs. We made some very strong points through this entire case and they have been recognized by the NAFTA panel." The NAFTA review was initiated in response to separate complaints filed by the Wheat Board and the North American Millers Association, which is also cheering the NAFTA panel's action. The original ITC decision found that U.S. growers were being injured by imports of hard red spring wheat from Canada and it affirmed tariffs of about 14 percent. The tariffs remain in effect during the 90 days the U.S. International Trade Commission was given to review the matter. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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