Durum Tariff Lifted,
Wheat Tax Stays
(October 3, 2003 - CBC) It was a
partial victory for the Canadian Wheat Board Friday when the
International Joint Commission ruled that a 13 per cent tariff imposed
by the United States on Canadian durum must be lifted.
However, the commission was evenly split on the justifications for a 14
per cent tariff imposed on hard red spring wheat. As a result those
tariffs will remain in place.
No reasons have been given for the decision, though a full report is
expected later this month.
Wheat Board director Larry Hill says the board will continue to lobby
for the removal of the tariffs on the wheat.
"When you see a two-two split like this, there is the
possibility that we could work with the U.S. ITC for a review in one
year and have the tariffs removed on hard red spring wheat as
well."
Saskatchewan's federal cabinet minister Ralph Goodale say the decision
flies in the face of U.S. decisions in the past. He calls Friday's
decision bizarre.
"The principle American complaint historically over the last
decade has been on durum, not on spring wheat. Not on barley, but on
durum. Now they have exonerated durum and they have turned to spring
wheat and barley. That's an amazing reversal of field in this
vote."
The Wheat Board is expected to appeal the decision to NAFTA and the
World Trade Organization. |
