(OTTAWA) – The Government of Canada today announced it will hold consultations with the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning U.S. agricultural subsidies. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) congratulates the government in taking this first move in taking concrete action to address U.S. over-subsidization and level the international playing field for Canadian farmers.

“The CFA has always supported our federal government taking action against the massive U.S. agricultural subsidies which distort global commodity markets,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “Hopefully these consultations signal the beginning of real action to fix this inequitable situation and make the U.S. live up to both the letter and the spirit of its international trade obligations.”

CFA is concerned that any trade action against U.S. subsidies should not create a situation that plays or trades off one Canadian commodity sector against another. Engaging in a dispute settlement through the WTO will ensure Canadian corn growers and livestock sectors that use corn are not pitted against each other.

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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.