The American Meat Institute
today won a critical victory when the United
States International Trade Commission (USITC)
removed tariffs on Canadian cattle imports. The
final USITC determination effectively ends the
dumping case: anti-dumping tariffs on imported
Canadian cattle will be lifted and all duties
collected since July will be refunded to U.S.
importers.
By a 5-1 vote, the USITC
determined that U.S. imports of Canadian cattle
are not materially injuring, or threaten
material injury, to the U.S. cattle industry.
The ITC case stemmed from a U.S.
Department of Commerce investigation in
response to a 1998 petition filed by the
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Foundation
(R-CALF). R-CALF alleged that Canadian cattle
were being "dumped" in the United States
market. After the Department of Commerce
ruling in July, U.S. customs has collected an
anti-dumping duty of approximately 5 ½
percent, ad valorem, on most cattle imported
into the U.S. from Canada.
AMI this
year retained outside legal counsel to counter
the allegations made by the petitioners. In
addition, several AMI member companies
submitted economic data and testified at a
USITC hearing in October that imports of
Canadian cattle represent a miniscule share –
less than three percent – of total U.S.
cattle supplies.
The R-CALF
petitioners were supported by nine U.S.
senators and four congressmen from five states
at a USITC hearing – an unprecedented
Congressional turnout. Although the level of
Canadian cattle imports is relatively low and
declining, the USITC was under considerable
political pressure to find injury in the case.
“We applaud USITC’s courage in
resisting unprecedented political pressure to
reach a fair and objective determination,”
said AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle.
“AMI strongly opposed the imposition of
anti-dumping tariffs on Canadian cattle and the
restraint of free trade. Historically,
livestock and meat trade within North American
has been relatively unrestricted. Anti-dumping
tariffs make absolutely no sense in a regional
market context. The USITC decision will
benefit American consumers and leave North
American trade patterns intact."
AMI represents the interests of packers and
processors of beef, pork, lamb, veal and turkey
products and their suppliers throughout North
America. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the
Institute provides legislative, regulatory and
public relations services, conducts scientific
and economic research, offers marketing and
technical assistance and sponsors education
programs.
AMI Victorious: Tariffs Lifted on Canadian Cattle
Tuesday, November 9, 1999
For more information contact:
Janet Riley Vice President, Public Affairs 703-841-2400 jriley@meatinstitute.org |
Sara Lilygren Senior VP, Public Affairs 703-841-2400 slilygren@meatinstitute.org |

