PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE BORDER
by Cam Dahl,
Executive Director Grain Growers of Canada,

The Need for Farmer to Farmer Co-operation

Numerous diplomatic and official political exchanges have taken place over the years, in an attempt to settle disputes between the Canadian and U.S. grains and oilseed industries. However, consultations between governments have not created a long term solution to bilateral grain trade issues.
This is likely due to two reasons. First, these consultations commonly take place between U.S. and Canadian agriculture bureaucrats who have not been given the necessary mandate by their respective governments. Second, representatives from farm industry groups have not been properly engaged in bilateral consultative processes.
Meanwhile, grain and oilseed farmers on both sides of the border face many of the same challenges. Some of these issues are:
• market distortions caused by tariff barriers, domestic subsidy program, and unfair export competition;
• non-tariff trade barriers are limiting farmers access to markets;
• a lack of harmonization on pesticide issues imposes cost burdens on both sides of the border;
• the rise of competitive producers in the developing world (e.g. South America) presents serious challenges to U.S. and Canadian growers alike; and
• farmers on both sides of the border are dealing with non-scientific market issues arising from the application of modern biotechnology.
Collaboration on these issues from farmers in the U.S. and Canada will allow us to present both governments with workable solutions to many of these challenges. This collaboration will also help develop the political will, which is often lacking, to move forward.

Canada/U.S. Grain Summit Meeting

On July 23, the Grain Growers of Canada membership hosted a summit meeting in Montreal with the American Soybean Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the National Barley Growers Association, and the National Corn Growers Association. The summit meeting brought together grain and oilseed farmers from all across Canada and the U.S. to develop a common approach to key common challenges. What I found striking about our discussions was not the differences of opinion, but how often farmers in both countries agreed upon solutions that will help ensure the future viability of our industries. Doug Eadie represented the Ontario Corn Producers' Association at the summit meeting. Specific areas of common action were agreed upon. Two of these issues have already seen the development of common positions: international trade and the harmonization of pesticide regulations. These will be briefly outlined below. These efforts have not gone unnoticed by elected politicians on both sides of the border. Discussions underway will facilitate face-to-face meetings between U.S. Senators and Representatives and Canadian Members of Parliament, to explore new ways of resolving the concerns raised by farmers. We are hopeful that our partnership with farmers south of the border will continue to develop and grow, and are confident that it will lead to substantial benefits for individual farmers.

Common Position on Trade

Members of the Canada/U.S. grains and oilseed summit submitted a common front to the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, through a submission to the Canadian Ministers for Agriculture and International Trade, as well as the U.S. Agriculture Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative. Farm leaders from both countries expressed support for the July 31 framework agreement negotiated at the WTO. While this agreement is not perfect, it will allow the negotiations to move forward, and it will allow for the trade liberalization goals of grains and oilseeds farmers, in both Canada and the United States. Canadian and U.S. farmers also restated strong support for substantive progress in all three pillars of the agriculture negotiations:

  • substantial improvements in market access;
  • reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies; and
  • substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support.

    • All of the groups involved in the summit will likely not agree on all future details, as the negotiations move through the difficult task of negotiating the specific modalities that will meet the framework's objectives. However, the strong common position of support for achieving real substantive agriculture trade liberalization, has already helped mute the calls, heard in both countries, to walk away from the process.

    The Push For Harmonization of Pesticide Regulations

    Canadian and U.S. farmers have also approached the two governments, outlining the need for an increased level of harmonization of the regulatory systems for crop pesticides, across the borders of our two countries, and for the development of a seamless joint registration process in the U.S. and Canada. Grains and oilseed producers were joined in this submission by crop protection registrants through the representation of CropLife Canada and CropLife America. We believe that a more harmonized approach will lead to more equitable availability of crop protection products for Canadian and U.S. farmers. The harmonization of regulations will also simplify the registration process for manufacturers, allowing them to complete reviews more quickly and economically. This, in turn, will spur the research and development needed to deliver more effective and economic products to farmers. I would welcome any questions or comments you may have on these issues or on the Canada/U.S. grains and oilseed summit project.