U.S. corn shippers warn injury from Canadian import duties

U.S. corn shippers warn injury from Canadian import duties    A group of American corn producer and shipper groups warned that Canada’s newly imposed provisional import duties against U.S. corn shipments would drive up feed costs for the Canadian cattle and hog industry.
   The U.S. Corn Coalition, which comprises the National Corn Growers Association, U.S. Grains Council, Corn Refiners Association and American Farm Bureau Federation, pointed out that Canada simply doesn’t produce enough corn domestically.
   Late last week, the Canada Border Service Agency set a provisional antidumping duty of 58 cents per bushel on unprocessed corn imported from the United States and a provisional countervailing duty of $1.07 per bushel. The total duty will be $1.65 on U.S. corn imports, effective Dec. 15.
   The Ontario Corn Producers’ Association and two other groups filed a complaint against U.S. corn imports in August, alleging that dumping and subsidizing of U.S. corn harms Canadian production.
   U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said in a joint statement Friday that they were “very disappointment” by Canada’s decision to impose the duties.
   Canada has conducted similar import investigations of U.S. corn since the early 1990s. In two cases (1991 and 2001), the investigations were dropped, citing that no injury to Canadian farmers was found.
   “The United States government will continue to argue its case with the Canadian investigative agencies and defend the interests of U.S. corn producers and exporters as the inquiries move forward,” Portman and Johanns said.
   The Canada Border Services Agency said it would continue its investigation of dumping and subsidizing of unprocessed corn imports from the United States and will make a final decision by March.