ORGANIZERS:

TITLE: North American Free Trade and Responses to Inreased Competition: A Look at Trade Disputes and Technical Barriers to Trade

ABSTRACT:The purpose of this symposium was to examine the responses of the Canadian, Mexican, and U.S governments and industries to the competitive impacts of increased North American agricultural trade. Sensitive commodities were highlighted. Applied research and extension education issues were presented and duscussed.

MODERATOR:
Flynn Adcock, Texas A&M University

PARTICIPANTS:
Caroline Gunning-Trant and Colin Carter, University of California-Davis
"The Increased Use of AD/CVD Cases in Response to Increased North American Trade"

Andrew Schmitz, University of Florida
"Case Study: The Continuing Saga of U.S. Cases Against the Canadian Wheat Board" (Did not use slides)

Parr Rosson and Flynn Adcock, Texas A&M University
"The Use of Technical Barriers to Trade to Mitigate Increased Import Competition"

Discussant:
Larry Martin, George Morris Centre, Guelph, Ontario N1G4T2

FORMAT:Gunning-Trant and Carter provided an overview of the use of trade remedy law within North America and how effective it has been to actually restrict trade. Some of the discussion focused on how countries that have not been targeted for antidumping action may actually increase their exports to the United States after duties have been imposed against others. Schmitz briefly discussed the history of U.S. challenges to the Canadian Wheat Board. The focus of his remarks were on the current WTO case, the potential outcomes, and subsequent impacts on North American agricultural trade relations and trade patterns. Adcock and Rosson provided an overview of the frequency and degree to which technical barriers are being used to disrupt or stop agricultural trade within North America. Sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, labeling requirements, and border procedures were emphasized. Martin summarized the symposium, identifid the prospects for continued trade growth, and emphasized the sectors in which trade may be inhibited in response to increasing competition within NAFTA.