The Trump administration will target supply management and
seed import restrictions when it opens negotiations on the North American Free
Trade Agreement.
Those are trade complaints listed in a report the
administration is using as a guide to negotiations, reports Canadian Press.
The auto industry is also featured.
More specifically for agriculture, Canadian Press says the
report targets:
—Cheese and
dairy: Canada's regulations on compositional standards restrict access to the
Canadian market for U.S. dry milk proteins. The report says Canada limits
imports by providing milk components at discounted prices to domestic
processors.
—Supply
management: Canada limits imports of dairy, chicken, turkey, and eggs. The
report says U.S. imports above quota levels face big tariffs — 245 per cent for
cheese, 298 per cent for butter. "(This) inflates the prices Canadians pay
for dairy and poultry."
—Wine and
liquor: Canadians get taxed on imports of U.S. alcohol upon returning from U.S.
trips, the report says. "This inhibits Canadians from purchasing U.S.
alcoholic beverages while (travelling)." To boot, most provinces restrict
sales of wine, beer, and spirits to provincial liquor boards, which have a
monopoly. B.C. and Ontario also have grocery-store restrictions.
—Seeds and
grain: Canada's Seeds Act generally prohibits the sale or advertising for sale
or import into Canada of various seeds. Also, U.S. wheat and barley exporters
struggle to receive a premium grade that indicates use for milling purposes.
