Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Canada holds Chilean pork market


Canada has beaten back an effort in Chile to impose high tariffs.

The Chilean government considered the request and Canada’s arguments and decided that the “safeguard” measures the Chilean pork industry requested cannot be justified.

Under World Trade Organization rules, there are provisions for “safeguard” tariffs if imports surge to the point of swamping the domestic industry.

Canada successfully argued that Chile’s pork industry does not qualify under the World Trade Organization rules.

Gary Stordy, spokesman for the Canadian Pork Council, welcomed the decision because Chile has become an important market for Canadian pork.

Canada is Chile’s second-largest pork supplier and sold more than 5.7 million tonnes worth about $17 million last year.