WINNIPEG (Staff) – International trade disputes are supposed to be over legal issues, but farm leaders say politics are playing a big part in a recent challenge from the United States.
“It’s election year in the U.S.,” said Lloyd Sandercock, chair of the Canadian Chicken Marketing Agency.
“And as we all know, it’s popular to beat up one of your neighbors when this happens.”
Leaders of dairy and poultry groups met with agriculture minister Harry Enns last week to confirm his support for their position. Enns said the thought of losing the challenge is “too significant to ponder” and said politics plays a big role in the challenge.
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“It may not be fair, but the Americans’ largest chicken producer comes from Arkansas,” Enns told a news conference. “Where does the president come from?”
President Bill Clinton is from Arkansas, as is the Tyson chicken corporation.
John Core, chair of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, said a complaint from a large commercial company can go a long way in the U.S. government because of the structure of its administration, which is appointed by the president.
