Farm-Scape is sponsored by Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork Play Audio Farm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork.

Farm-Scape, Episode 1550

Manitoba Pork Council says the entire Canadian pork industry has a vested interest in thwarting the efforts of US hog producers to have countervail and antidumping duties imposed on live Canadian hogs.

In an effort to move as quickly as possible, Manitoba has taken the lead in defending against allegations that subsidized Canadian hogs dumped into the US are harming American swine producers.

Manitoba Pork Council has retained legal council, including a Washington based firm, to represent 10 of 11 respondents selected by the US Commerce Department for investigation.

Manitoba Pork Council General Manager Ted Muir says Canada will have a better indication of the direction the action will take late this year or early next.

"There's a final injury determination that will take place later on this year, early part of next year. If that goes in our favor it could just stop this trade action in its tracks.

If, under the worst case scenario, a duty is assigned on countervail or antidumping only the exporters will have to pay that duty however it's been past practices that the local domestic plants have deducted that amount or something similar to it from the spot price they'll pay for hogs locally so it can affect producers locally.

As well, at some point, it could be expanded to pork and if, under the worst case scenario, this thing dragged on for a number of years, there's other respondents in other provinces that could be dragged into it so it could be around and be a nightmare for some time".

Muir says it's important to make sure all the Canadian parties are presenting a unified argument when the ITC renders its final determination of injury, to get this action killed once and for all.

He says the hope is that a nationally coordinated unified approach can be undertaken that will allow all players in Canada's pork industry to contribute to the cause because everyone has a stake in a positive outcome.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.