CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER U.S. COMPLAINTS OF CANADIAN IMPORTS

Released on September 14, 1998

Deputy Premier Dwain Lingenfelter said today he has written Canadian

and United States trade officials expressing concern over the position

by some United States politicians to blame Canadian imports for

causing low prices of agricultural commodities.



"The recent comment by South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow pledging to

stop and re-inspect Canadian meat and grain imports into the United

States is obviously designed to discourage imports of Canadian

products," Lingenfelter said.



"The United States should be reminded of the substantial benefits as a

result of two-way trade of agriculture and food products between our

two countries which now exceeds $34 billion annually, most of which

occurs unrestricted and without incident. Canada is a fair trader and

a competitive producer of agriculture products with a reputation of

excellent quality. It appears that some Americans are more concerned

about how competitive Canada is and they want to use non-tariff

barriers to restrict Canada's access to their markets."



Lingenfelter said that Canada has a tremendous interest to ensure

trade can occur across the 49th parallel and that federal authorities

on both sides have worked diligently to ensure that inspection

requirements achieve mutual food safety and product quality to

facilitate trade.



There is some uncertainty as to the means and authority that

Governor Janklow intends to use to stop and re-inspect Canadian

imports to South Dakota. However, if Janklow fulfills his

threat, Lingenfelter has asked the federal government to react

swiftly and take whatever recourse is available under the North

American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and World Trade

Organization Agreement.



"Intervention by South Dakota of the nature contemplated by

Governor Janklow can only result in a setback to the very

important gains already made for both Canada and the United

States in our overall trade relations," Lingenfelter said.



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For more information, contact:



Hal Cushon

Agriculture and Food

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-5961