May 10, 2004

US Pork Group Happy With ITC Ruling

The National Pork Producers Council, a U.S. group, said Friday it is pleased with a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission that Canadian hog exports cause injury to U.S. producers.
 
The NPPC said the ITC ruling allows the Commerce Department to begin investigations into "Canadian pricing and subsidy practices."
 
NPPC President John Caspers said in a statement: "Unfair Canadian trade practices have resulted in increased Canadian hog exports to the United States which have negatively impacted prices causing financial harm to U.S. pork producers."
 
The U.S. group said it expects Commerce to issue a preliminary determination on its investigations sometime this summer.
 
The NPPC filed the trade case against Canadian hog exports on March 5. The group said it covers all live hogs except breeding stock, and stressed that pork trade is not included.