Farmers call for action

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2003

(OTTAWA) - It has been one week since the United States imposed an unfair tariff on Canadian wheat. On behalf of Canadian grains producers the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is requesting an update from the federal government on what has been done to address the situation.

"The U.S. continues to abuse our grains industry with no justification. Our Trade Minister has called it indecent. The Prime Minister called it a joke," noted Bob Friesen, CFA President. "They are right. Now we would like to know what concrete steps the government is taking to end this indecent joke."

On Tuesday, March 4, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced it is imposing a 3.94 per cent tariff on Canadian wheat exports to the U.S. The move is part of a complaint against the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), which U.S. grains producers claim constitutes a trade subsidy.

"The U.S. has made this same case many times before, and they have lost every time. They know they have no case," said Friesen. "The CWB is the world's largest and most effective grains marketer, and the U.S. is the world's biggest agriculture subsidizer. The question remains: what will our government do to close the issue as soon as possible, and mitigate trade injury to Canadian producers."

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.

Contact:

Kieran Green, CFA Communications Coordinator, (613) 236-3633, info@cfafca.ca

Bob Friesen, CFA President, (204) 724-0824 (cell)

Brigid Rivoire, CFA Executive Director, (613) 236-3633 / (613) 715-3113 (cell)