These statistics illuminate how critical the US market is for Manitoba agricultural producers. The agreement also establishes sanitary and phyto-sanitary regulations, outlines safeguards for producers and rules of origin. Trade Disruptions C anada's future economic growth strategy for agriculture and agri-food is dependent upon the continued escalation of exports. A key component of this strategy is enhancing international market access. The disruption of trade due to the sudden loss of market access can have serious ramifications for our industry.
Market access is particularly critical for the agriculture and agri-food industry in Manitoba.
Our provincial population is one million people, but our farmers produce enough food to feed six times as many consumers. We must work within the trade rules that exist to maintain access to the export markets we depend upon. Successful resolution of trade disputes with the US is only possible if dispute settlement mechanisms established by trade agreements are utilized appropriately. In May 1999, the US ruled in a preliminary determination on the countervailing duty investigation that there was insufficient evidence to justify the imposition of a countervailing duty on imports of Canadian cattle. The claims that the CWB keeps domestic feed barley prices low and that NISA is a countervailable subsidy were both rejected.