05/13/05 Takiing on B.C. potato duties

Farm and Ranch May 13, 2005 The Canadian Border Services Agency recently determined that British Columbia anti-dumping duties on Washington and U.S. potatoes are necessary and should be continued for another five years. That sets the stage for a July 11th and 12th hearing before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal in Vancouver, B.C. It's the Tribunal that will make the final decision on the future of the duties, which have been in place since 1984 and are undergoing a five-year review. The Washington State Potato Commission is geared up to oppose the duties before the Tribunal and its executive director Pat Boss says they hope to win. Boss: "We've got some good arguments to present. We've got some good evidence to present and we are going to go in trying to win and that is our whole goal because we feel if we do win we will save the Washington state industry about 5-million dollars a year in duties, because that is about we end up paying when we sell potatoes up there every year. The duty basically doubles the price of the potatoes. So in essence we feel this is as good investment in Commission dollars to try and over turn this ruling. British Columbia is our biggest market. But we are not dumping up there. It is just a natural market for us because we are right next to it." The Tribunal must rule by September 12th and Boss says depending upon what happens, the issue could be before a NAFTA panel later this year. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.