U.S. rulings good news for cross-border cattle, hog trade

TORONTO (Nov. 15, 1999) — Last week’s U.S. rulings halting trade duties imposed on Canada’s hog and cattle industries drew predictable praise from Canadian agriculture authorities hopeful of an end to protests that have clogged border-crossing points and hindered truck traffic.

The U.S. International Trade Commission decided that imports of cattle from Canada are not injuring or threatening to the U.S. industry. Anti-dumping duties collected over the past year will be refunded to Canadian cattle exporters.

The ruling proves the value of a strong, rules-based international trade system, B.C. Minister of Agriculture and Food Corky Evans said. “I am pleased U.S. authorities finally did the right thing and brought this trade action against our cattle exports to an end,” Evans said. “I am disappointed the U.S. industry group has decided to appeal, but I am confident the decision will be upheld.

Evans said the trade action hit B.C.’s cattle industry hard because most of its production is exported. Duties of 5.6% (about $50 per head) were imposed on all Canadian feeder and slaughter cattle exports to the U.S., including B.C. cattle exports that were worth $80 million in 1998.

In a separate decision last week, the U.S. agreed it should lift15 years of countervailing duties against live swine imported from Canada. The decision followed a review of the duty order required under World Trade Organization rules that came into effect in 1995.