WASHINGTON, (April 12, 2005) — Cow haulers hurt by BSE, and looking for other animals to load into empty cattleliners, now have a more open cross-border hog market to consider after the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Canadian pigs are not being dumped in the U.S. at unfairly low prices.

The 5-0 ITC vote — which means that a proposed 18.87 percent tariff on Canadian hogs will not be collected — reversed an earlier Department of Commerce decision that reaffirmed the dumping claim made by U.S. swine farmers, who said they were placed at a competitive disadvantage because of Canadian “subsidized” hogs coming across the border.

The dispute is on of several NAFTA battles between Canada and the U.S. Workers in other agriculture sectors, such as wheat, dairy — as well as the softwood lumber industry — also claim Canadian product exported to the U.S. hurts homegrown business.

However, many U.S. businesses rely on Canadian imports. The Pork Trade Action Coalition, which represents farmers opposing the tariffs, hailed the reversal, saying hundreds of American farmers who adapted to the advantages of NAFTA would be “devastated” by the proposed duties.