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Animal Industry Corn Users Pleased by Canadian International Trade Tribunal Grain Corn Final Determination

Animal Industry Corn Users (AICU), a coalition of the Animal Nutrition Association of  Canada (ANAC), Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and Canadian Pork Council (CPC), was very pleased following today’s ruling by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) which determined that imports of grain corn from the U.S. had not caused, and do not threaten to cause, material injury to Canadian corn producers.

Ian McKillop, President of the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association, and a Director of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, explains, “This has been a very divisive and disruptive investigation, which has hurt Canadian beef and pork producers, and has not helped corn growers. “Hopefully we can now get on with trying to fix the damage and disruption already caused to pork and beef producers by this investigation,” Mr. McKillop says.

Kathleen Sullivan , General Manager of ANAC, adds, “Canadian corn growers are experiencing global price pressures, and these pressures are not unique to corn producers. Most Canadian producers of grains, oilseeds and livestock are affected by world market conditions. The most serious problem for Canadian farmers is the strength of the Canadian dollar. The Tribunal heard evidence that currency movements over the last three years have reduced Canadian farm earnings by more than 25%.”

Edouard Asnong, 1 Vice-President of the Canadian Pork Council, notes, “The global problems which Canadian farmers are facing require global answers and solutions. The government must show leadership to ensure that multilateral and bilateral negotiations result in more fair trading environments. In the absence of that, the Canadian government must step in to provide effective and predictable programs for farmers.”

Mr. McKillop urges the government to seek solutions to low agricultural prices through WTO negotiations, and if this option is not fast enough or effective enough, through challenges under the dispute settlement system. “This is an urgent matter. It requires urgent attention,”  he notes.

Media contacts:

Pork Sector
Mr. Edouard Asnong
1st Vice-President
Canadian Pork Council
(c) (514) 984-3513
(h) (450) 248-2375
 
Beef Sector
Mr. Ian McKillop
Director
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
(c) (519) 868-4202
(h) (519) 762-6484
 
Livestock Feed Sector
Ms. Kathleen Sullivan
General Manager
Animal Nutrition Association of Canada
(t) (613) 241-6421