Canada's practice of downgrading U.S. wheat to feed, the lowest value available for import, apparently is continuing, despite the USMCA trade agreement, according to Congressional delegations from Montana and North Dakota.
According to a Sidney Herald report, the Canadian Varietal Registration System remains a roadblock.
It a list of all the wheat varieties that may be sold on Canadian markets. Any wheat varieties not on that list must be sold as feed, regardless of what USMCA says.
U.S. Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, said he has received reports from growers that Montana wheat is still facing a huge competitive disadvantage in Canadian markets, and that Canada has so far indicated it is not willing to change its VRS to include Montana varieties.
The situation has prompted Tester and North Dakota’s Congressional delegation to write to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer and urge him to bring this issue up with Canada trade representatives and push for a resolution.
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