Canadian cattle producers are in Washington, D.C., defending their industry before the International Trade Commission.
The defence was made more difficult last week when the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association voted to support a countervailing duty case against Canadian live cattle imports, which argues Canadian imports are disrupting the U.S. market.
The NCBA also voted to oppose an anti-dumping case against Mexico but to remain neutral on an anti-dumping case against Canada. This case charges that the Canadian beef industry sells at below production costs.
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During a trade summit at the end of October, American cattle producers told the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association they would not support any part of the petition because they believe in free trade and negotiation.
The Canadians planned to present a brief at a special Nov. 12 hearing of the trade commission to evaluate whether the American cattle industry has been injured by Canadian imports.
“We believe there are no injuries,” said Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president, from the cattlemen’s association office in Calgary.
CCA president Ben Thorlakson said Canada has a good chance of winning but the legal bills to fight this petition will be steep.
“Our best guess is a minimum of $1.5 million paid by Canadian cattlemen,” Thorlakson said.
“The Americans have accused us of having a whole variety of support programs that give Canada an unfair advantage. This very much is an attack on the government of Canada and the provinces.”
Organizations including the Canadian Wheat Board were singled out by the American cattle group, which says it believes the CWB suppresses the price of barley to benefit domestic feeders.
If the commission determines there is no injury, the issue will be dropped.
The original petition before the United States government against Canadian live cattle exports came from the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Foundation, a group of grassroots producers mostly representing the northern states.
