(CBSA)

Ottawa loses millions on import duties

A significant volume of dairy, poultry, eggs and beef was imported into Canada without a permit or paying the appropriate customs duties, hurting both the federal treasury and farmers, says Auditor General Michael Ferguson in his spring report to Parliament. Analyzing figures from Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Border Services Agency found “authorizations, certificates,

Non-tariff trade barriers remain major obstacle

Non-tariff trade barriers remain major obstacle

They’ve become a favourite tool to block trade now that tariffs are out of fashion

While tariffs on agri-food products are declining around the world, non-tariff trade barriers are sprouting up like weeds, the Commons agriculture has been told. “While we are seeing progress in lowering tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers are frequently waiting, or newly created ones are set in place to be the next wave of protectionism that we


Will it be beef or bison?

Will it be beef or bison?

Glacier FarmMedia Special Report: Some see more opportunity for increased bison sales to the EU than for beef

Glacier FarmMedia assembled a team of reporters from its network of publications, which includes the Manitoba Co-operator, to examine the implications of Canada’s new trade deal with the European Union on Canadian agriculture and food processing. In coming weeks, watch for a series of articles that zero in on the challenge Canadian agriculture faces turning

Freer trade still comes with strings attached

Freer trade still comes with strings attached

Glacier FarmMedia Special Report: Industry officials say they must continue efforts to reduce or eliminate non-tariff trade barriers

Glacier FarmMedia assembled a team of reporters from its network of publications, which includes the Manitoba Co-operator, to examine the implications of Canada’s new trade deal with the European Union on Canadian agriculture and food processing. In coming weeks, watch for a series of articles that zero in on the challenge Canadian agriculture faces turning

Canada can retaliate on COOL

Canada can retaliate on COOL

But the tariffs will be lower than it wanted

In a ruling released earlier this week, Canada and Mexico got about one-third of the clout they sought from the World Trade Organization to impose retaliatory tariffs on American products because of country-of-origin labelling. But Canadian officials say the ability to penalize imported U.S. goods to the tune of C$1,054,729 is enough to pressure U.S.


pigs

COOL decision down to the fine points

An arbitration panel heard widely different interpretations of how much damage was done

Canada has made its final pitch to a World Trade Organization panel on the billions of dollars of damage beef and pork producers say they have suffered due to the U.S. country-of-origin labelling (COOL) program. Now it awaits a decision on what level of retaliatory tariffs it can impose on imports of American food and

U.S. Capitol Hill senate building

Editorial: COOL fight not over yet

U.S. legislators will soon vote to repeal, but how it will all play out remains to be clear

The WTO has made its final-final decision in Canada’s favour on U.S. labelling laws. It now appears that U.S. legislators in the House of Representatives will vote next month on a bill to repeal it. But Canada’s COOL fight isn’t over. Support for repealing the legislation is less secure from the U.S. Senate where the

meat counter in a grocery store

Pressure mounts for changes to country-of-origin labelling

WTO ruling sets the stage for U.S. repeal of COOL

The United States has three months to repeal its country-of-origin labelling program on beef and pork imports before Canada and Mexico will proceed with billions of dollars’ worth of retaliatory tariffs on American goods. In the wake of the World Trade Organization’s final decision May 18 that COOL violates international trade rules, the House of


WTO in Geneva, Switzerland.

Editorial: Winning at the WTO for real

Canadian livestock producers won something to crow about but little else in the latest WTO ruling to support their claim that the U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labelling rules are unfair and discriminatory. The ruling was accompanied by the now-familiar volley of press releases from Canadian livestock and meat producers, and more sabre-rattling by federal politicians about

Seed trade says thanks to Gerry Ritz

On behalf of the board of directors and the members of the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), I would like to thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to speak to delegates at our semi-annual meeting. Your comments were welcomed and appreciated. Your steadfast support of science as the basis for regulatory