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STATES/PROVINCES DISCUSSION ON AGRICULTURAL TRADE ISSUES WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

STATES/PROVINCES DISCUSSION ON AGRICULTURAL TRADE ISSUES WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?. NITHI GOVINDASAMY ALBERTA AGRICULTURE, FOOD & RURAL DEVELOPMENT. INTRODUCTION.

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STATES/PROVINCES DISCUSSION ON AGRICULTURAL TRADE ISSUES WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

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  1. STATES/PROVINCES DISCUSSION ON AGRICULTURAL TRADE ISSUES WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? NITHI GOVINDASAMYALBERTA AGRICULTURE, FOOD & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

  2. INTRODUCTION • U.S. STATES & CANADIAN PROVINCES HAVE ENGAGED IN A NUMBER OF CROSS BORDER INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO INCREASE INFORMATION FLOW AND COMMUNICATION ON BILATERAL TRADE ISSUES • PRODUCERS, POLITICIANS & SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INVOLVED THROUGH OPEN CONFERENCES AND FRANK CLOSED DOOR POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS • LEVEL & FREQUENCY OF CROSS BORDER CONTACT INTENSIFIED AFTER BORDER BLOCKADES OF 1998

  3. INTRODUCTION • BOTH FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEED TO BETTER MANAGE TRADE RELATIONSHIP • FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE ENCOURAGED MORE FREQUENT CONTACT BETWEEN STATES & PROVINCES

  4. BACKGROUND • BORDER BLOCKADES RAISED POLITICAL PROFILE OF CANADA/U.S. AGRICULTURAL TRADE DIFFICULTIES IN FEDERAL CAPITALS • RESULTED IN DECEMBER 2ND 1998 SIGNING OF RECORD OF UNDERSTANDING (ROU) • ESTABLISHMENT OF COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE (CCA) & PROVINCES/STATES ADVISORY GROUP (PSAG)

  5. STATES/PROVINCES INITIATIVES • ALBERTA/MONTANA AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES CONFERENCE, JUNE 1999 • MORE FREQUENT CONTACT BETWEEN ALBERTA PREMIER/MONTANA GOVERNOR • ACCORD WORKING GROUP MEETINGS • ACCORD MEETING, JULY 1999. ESTABLISHMENT OF CANADA/U.S. WORKING GROUP ON CROSS BORDER TRADE ISSUES • WESTERN GOVERNORS/WESTERN PREMIERS MEETING FOCUSING ON AGRICULTURE • NORTHERN PLAINS PRODUCER CONFERENCE, NOVEMBER, 1999

  6. STATES/PROVINCES INITIATIVES • IDAHO/CANADA AGRICULTURAL SUMMIT, JANUARY, 2000 • PSAG MEETING, WASHINGTON, MARCH, 2000. WORK PROGRAM • ACCORD MEETING, JULY 2000

  7. ASSESSMENT • CROSS BORDER DIALOGUE USEFUL IN PROMOTING BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF BILATERAL AGRICULTURAL DYNAMIC • MANY MISCONCEPTIONS REMAIN • MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS EVIDENT • DIFFERENCES IN ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH STANDARDS, REGULATIONS SEEN AS KEY ISSUES FOR TRADE DISRUPTION • PUBLICITY REGARDING THE NUMBER & SIGNIFICANCE OF TRADE IRRITANTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED IS LACKING

  8. ASSESSMENT • INCREASED EXPECTATION BY PRODUCER GROUPS FOR FASTER DELIVERY OF RESULTS • SOME GROUPS WILL CONTINUE TO USE TRADE LITIGATION AS PREFERRED AVENUE FOR RESOLUTION • CROSS BORDER INITIATIVES HAVE HELPED TO REDUCE BORDER TENSION, PROMOTED HEALTHY DIALOGUE, BETTER APPRECIATION OF EACH OTHERS’ AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS AND RESOLVED SOME IRRITANTS • NO BORDER DEMONSTRATIONS/DISRUPTIONS SINCE JULY, 1999

  9. ASSESSMENT • TOO EARLY TO ASSESS EFFECTIVENESS OF FORMAL/INFORMAL INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS IN DEALING WITH TOUGH ISSUES: • E.G. STATE TRADING, ACCESS FOR DAIRY, POULTRY, SUGAR ETC. GRADING HARMONIZATION, PROPOSED COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING, YEAR ROUND ACCESS FOR FEEDER CATTLE, RESTRICTIONS ON POTATO TRADE, USE/ABUSE OF ANTI-DUMPING & COUNTERVAIL LEGISLATION

  10. ROAD AHEAD • FEDERAL JURISDICTIONS MUST CONTINUE TO BE RECEPTIVE TO STATES/PROVINCES INVOLVEMENT AND INPUT INTO CROSS BORDER AGRICULTURAL TRADE ISSUES • CCA/PSAG PROCESSES, WHEN FULLY DEVELOPED, MAY LEAD TO EXPANSION OF BILATERAL AGENDA TO INCLUDE NEGOTIATION OF COMPREHENSIVE FTA • INCREASING PRESSURE TO MOVE TOWARDS FULL POLICY HARMONIZATION

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