U.S. wheat and other grain can and do access Canadian markets, duty-free, as economics warrants. Procedures for access to Canadian elevators by U.S. farmers have been simplified in recent years. Another program, initiated in 1999, facilitates in-transit movement of U.S. grain on Canadian railways from 17 states through Canada to U.S. destinations on the east and west coasts. Over 600,000 tonnes of U.S. wheat, barley and other grain were shipped in-transit from North Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana in 1999, thus providing U. S. farmers with an additional transportation option. In 1995, Canada eliminated its subsidy on rail freight rates for export grain.
Producers now pay the full cost of transportation.
The CWB markets grain on behalf of western Canadian farmers, disbursing the net returns from grain sales to growers in an equitable fashion. Neither Canada nor the CWB subsidizes the export of wheat or any other grain. The CWB endeavours to secure the highest possible returns for Prairie farmers from all available markets. For commercial reasons, the CWB, like private grain traders, does not reveal grain sales prices. However, available supplies of high grade durum wheat in the United States and Canada affect prices and flows of durum wheat.