Product of Canada, eh?

Garlic

Prepared garlic (that's the peeled, ready-to-use stuff in jars) almost always says "Product of Canada" on the label. It's mostly grown in China. Here's a quick timeline:

• 1997 - The Canadian International Trade Tribunal finds Chinese garlic is being illegally dumped here. China is selling garlic to Canada for $0.58/kg, compared with the normal price of $1.91/kg. The CITT introduces a tariff on Chinese garlic that will be in effect from July to December - the Canadian garlic growing season. At this time 68 percent of Canada’s fresh garlic imports come from China.
• 2000 - Garlic growers ask for a review of the time period after China starts importing almost all of its garlic during the January-to-June window to avoid the tariff. Despite the July-to-December tariff, China exports more garlic to Canada this year than it ever has before.
• 2000 - The tariff is expanded to the whole year and to garlic from Vietnam.
• 2002 - The tariff is renewed for another 5 years. Chinese imports suddenly drop, from $2 million the year before to $200,000 in 2002. At the same time, imports of garlic from the Philippines suddenly jump, from $2 million to $6 million. The Garlic Growers of Ontario believe China is illegally exporting through the Philippines to avoid the tariff.
• 2007 - The Canadian tariff expires again, this time without much of a fight. Most Canadian growers are out of business or have turned to other crops. Today, Canadian-grown garlic is mostly found at farmers' markets and in specialty shops.

October 24, 2007
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