NAMA
Praises Decision of
International Trade Commission
on Wheat Trade
Washington, DC
– October 5, 2005 - The North American
Millers’ Association (NAMA) applauds
today’s announcement by the International Trade
Commission (ITC) ruling that imports of hard red
spring wheat from Canada do not cause material injury
to US growers – a reversal of its 2003 decision.
The principal use of hard red spring wheat flour is
for bread, and its production is centered in North
Dakota.
In the last 10 years US wheat acreage has declined by
more than 18 million acres, more than 4 million acres
in North Dakota alone, making access to the entire
North American wheat crop critical to US millers,
food manufacturers and consumers. In some years,
including 2005, the wheat crop in the upper Midwest
is further reduced when hit by disease that reduces
yield as well as quality.
In response to the 2003 decision, NAMA filed an
appeal with the NAFTA Secretariat. A NAFTA appeals
panel remanded the determination back to the ITC
earlier this year, calling on the agency to correct
nine specific faults. If affirmed by that NAFTA
panel, today’s decision will result in the
rescinding of tariffs of about 14 percent on imports
of Canadian wheat.
"Critical errors formed the basis for the
original ITC decision, including ignoring the
agency’s own analysis that showed US millers
almost always have to pay more, not less, for
Canadian wheat," said John Miller, president,
Miller Milling Company and chairman of NAMA’s ad
hoc committee lending expertise in the case. "We
commend the ITC for making the correct
determination."
"We stand ready to work with growers to identify
ways they can strengthen their ability to compete, as
opposed to merely trying to eliminate the
competition," Miller continued. "We will
continue, as we always have, to look first to
domestic suppliers for our spring wheat and durum
requirements. But we must not be prevented from
securing alternative supplies from other sources when
conditions require."
NAMA has 48 member companies operating 170 wheat,
corn, oat and rye mills in 38 states, 150 cities and
Canada.
###
CONTACT: Jim
Bair, Vice President
202.484.2200, ext.14
bfaga@namamillers.org
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