III
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 143
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 25, 2017
Mr. Tester submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance
RESOLUTION
Supporting fair and equitable grading treatment for exports of United States wheat products to Canada.
Whereas Canada is the second largest goods trading partner of the United States, with $575,000,000,000 in goods traded between the 2 countries in 2015, as the United States exported $280,000,000,000 in goods to Canada and imported $295,000,000,000 in goods from Canada in that year;
Whereas the efficient and equitable flow of agricultural goods across the border is a critical component of the trade relationship between the United States and Canada;
Whereas wheat is the third most widely produced field crop in the United States, and approximately ½ of the wheat produced in the United States is exported;
Whereas Canadian law requires wheat imported from the United States to be segregated from wheat produced in Canada and automatically designated as feed quality, the lowest possible designation, regardless of the actual quality or the variety of the wheat product;
Whereas United States Federal law allows wheat imported from Canada to be graded under the same system as domestically grown wheat;
Whereas that unfair devaluation practice puts United States agricultural producers at a distinct disadvantage when attempting to access Canadian wheat markets;
Whereas the treatment by Canada of United States wheat products is likely a violation of trade agreements and is to the detriment of United States agricultural producers; and
Whereas the strong economic ties between the United States and Canada are extremely important and well-served when a level playing field exists across all industries: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that—
wheat grading practices in Canada should—
grade wheat produced in Canada in the same manner as wheat produced in the United States; and
be fair to agricultural producers in the United States; and
the President should—
examine whether the wheat grading laws of Canada adhere to trade agreements; and
insist on full access for United States exporters of wheat to the Canadian market.