Newsroom
2002
November 13, 2002
CWB welcomes modification of EU grain import system
Winnipeg -- The European Union (EU) will remain an important market for western Canadian wheat and durum wheat following the EU announcement yesterday that it is modifying its grain import system. The modifications are designed to control the flow of cheaper, low-quality wheat imports arriving primarily from the Ukraine and Russia, but will not change the structure of the import duty system for high quality wheat and durum.
“Western Canadian farmers will continue to enjoy relatively unrestricted access to the important EU market for our high quality products,” said Larry Hill, a farmer-elected director and chair of the board of directors’ trade committee.
CWB wheat sales to the EU consist primarily of high quality milling wheat and durum. Canada exported 870 000 tonnes of milling wheat and 378 000 tonnes of durum to the EU in 2001.
The EU consulted with its major trading partners, in particular Canada and the United States, in drawing up the modified import system. “Throughout this process, the CWB worked successfully with the Government of Canada to ensure continued unrestricted market access for Canadian wheat and durum,” said Hill.
The EU modifications do include the imposition of a flat duty of 12 Euros per tonne on the first three million tonnes of low and mid-quality wheat. Volumes over this amount will be assessed a flat duty of over 95 Euros per tonne. Given that Canadian sales to the EU
consist primarily of high quality wheat and durum, the CWB does not expect our exports to be affected by the modifications. The EU has announced its new system will be in place by January 1, 2003.
Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada’s biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less the costs of marketing, to Prairie farmers.
For further information, contact:
Louise Waldman
CWB Media Relations Manager
Tel: 1-204-983-3101