ITC Strikes Down Canadian Durum Wheat Import Tariffs,
NAMA Applauds Ruling
CONTACT: James
Bair, Vice President
202.484.2200, ext.107
jbair@namamillers.org
Washington, DC – October 3, 2003. The North American Millers' Association (NAMA) applauds the announcement Friday by the International Trade Commission (ITC) that durum wheat growers have not been injured by imports of durum wheat from Canada. The unanimous vote by the four ITC Commissioners strikes down the import tariffs established earlier by the U.S. Commerce Department in response to a petition brought by the North Dakota Wheat Commission alleging price dumping of Canadian wheat. The ITC Commissioners split 2-2 on the same question relative to hard red spring wheat (HRS), and the temporary tariffs on that class of wheat continue.
“The ITC has done the right thing in the durum case and we congratulate them for it,” said John Gillcrist, NAMA chairman. “U.S. millers buy more American wheat than all export buyers put together. We want to buy more, and look forward to a greater appreciation by growers of the quantity and quality needs of their best customer.”
U.S. government figures prove that production of both types of wheat is insufficient to meet total usage. For example, total U.S. durum wheat usage is about 135 million bushels annually. Yet, durum production over the last 20 years averaged about 96 million bushels, and only one-half of that was of milling quality. Hence the need for supplementing the U.S. crop with imports from Canada.
“As we have testified over and over, we are forced to pay higher, not lower, prices for Canadian wheat,” Gillcrist continued. “It's so obvious, at least it is to us. The fact that U.S. millers consistently buy more than 80 percent of their supplies from U.S. growers proves we get no price discounts from Canada.”
The ruling to continue the HRS wheat tariffs will simply force that Canadian wheat into the world market where it will displace sales of U.S. wheat to export customers the growers purport to care so much about.
NAMA has 46 member companies operating 170 wheat, corn, oat and rye mills in 38 states and 150 cities. Its membership represents about 95% of the total U.S. capacity.
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Read more:
Background information on NAMA
John Gillcrist bio
Open Borders (301 Petition): Should the United States keep the border open for unrestricted trade with Canada in wheat and products? NAMA says yes. Supply and demand considerations, including quality problems in the U.S. crop, make access to the entire North American wheat crop absolutely essential for the milling industry to remain efficient and competitive.
NAMA Reacts to Commerce Department Tariff Ruling on Wheat Imports from Canada, news release August 29, 2003
NAMA Urges ITC to Deny Petition for Restricting Wheat Trade , news release, October 8, 2002
NAMA Opposes Efforts to Restrict Trade in Wheat Between the U.S. and Canada, news release September 17, 2002
The North American Millers' Association Defends Free Trade with Canada, news release, April 23, 2002
The North American Millers' Association Applauds Administration Decision on Wheat Trade -news release, February 15, 2002
United States to Pursue Action Against Monopolistic Canadian Wheat Board
NAMA's comments in response to the request for public comment on the wheat trading practices of the Canadian Wheat Board - January 14, 2002
Image Library
Mill Closings
Pasta Plant Closings
International Trade Commission Report Supports Continued Free Trade in Wheat between the U.S. and Canada - NAMA news release, January 2, 2002
NAMA talking points on the report by the International Trade Commission
Summary of ITC Report On Conditions Of Competition Between U.S. And Canadian Wheat Industries - December 21, 2001
ITC Report Wheat Trade Practices
Testimony before the International Trade Commission - June 6, 2001.
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