The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) has called on the U.S. pork industry to withdraw its trade cases against Canada, citing the U.S. Commerce Department’s Aug. 17 ruling that the Canadian swine industry farm support payments are fully in compliance with U.S. law and international trade rules.
The CPC release states: “Farm support payments are a fact of life in the U.S., Canada and the global agricultural industry. The result of the recent decision in this trade case is that the U.S. government has found that Canada continues to ‘do it right’ under U.S. law and the rules of international trade. Furthermore, payments made to Canadian farmers have not harmed the U.S. pork industry.”
While the Commerce Department found that federal income stabilization programs in Canada were not “illegal” based on preliminary results, the data did demonstrate that subsidies disproportionately benefited the hog industry, according to the National Pork Producers Council.
There was a lot to be positive about in the pork industry the last week of October. I realize it is difficult to be optimistic when you are still losing $25 to $30/head. I also realize that positive news at this point could be as dangerous as it is welcome. But facts are facts, and we must recognize them.
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As I begin this week's column, I"m reminded of two different "flip side" statements that may help characterize the topic at hand. The first is the old Archie Campbell schtick - "That's good - no that’s bad," which I have used before. The second reflects President Truman's frustration with economists' incessant use of the qualifier - "on the other hand" - to introduce the contrary opinion on a given topic. President Truman once demanded in his usual colorful language: "Will someone please find me a *!&%$*?>
