September 1, 2003
US Raises Duties on Canadian Wheat
On August 29th, the U.S. Commerce Department raised anti-dumping and countervailing duties for imports of Canadian wheat that the U.S. government has said were marketed unfairly, the agency said in a release.
U.S. wheat groups said they are pleased with a U.S. Department of Commerce ruling Friday to impose duties of 14.16% on Canadian hard red spring wheat and 13.55% Canadian durum wheat.
The Commerce decision was based on claims by U.S. producers that the Canadian Wheat Board subsidizes and dumps wheat in the U.S. at below-market
prices.
Larry Lee, speaking on behalf of the North Dakota Wheat Commission, said, "While we continue to seek a permanent solution to inequities in wheat trade between the United States and Canada, today's (Friday's) decision gives U.S. farmers some relief from the monopolistic Canadian Wheat Board's unfair pricing."
The U.S.-based National Association of Wheat Growers, Wheat Export Trade Education Commission and U.S. Wheat Associates also praised the decision to impose duties and attached themselves to Lee's comments.
The North Dakota Wheat Commission, in a prepared statement, said that U.S. "wheat farmers and businesses...are grateful for the...decision to impose duties" by the U.S. Commerce Department.
The North American Miller's Association, whose members buy wheat from Canada, were not pleased with the Commerce ruling.
John Gillcrist, the group's chaiman, said the ruling will make it more expensive for U.S. processors who can't get all the wheat they need from U.S. farmers.
