Canada Allows U.S. Expanded Ag Trade Opportunities

November 2, 1999

Canadian officials have agreed to expand the number of states participating in the in-transit rail program that allows U.S. producers to ship grain headed to other export markets through Canada under a certificate of origin rather than a phytosanitary certificate. U.S. producers also will be able to export grain from the port of Vancouver for the first time.

"Expansion of the rail program will open up new markets for a number of midwestern states and save producers money by offering a more affordable method of grain transport," said USDA Under Secretary Michael V. Dunn.

Preparations are underway to expand the current in-transit rail program from Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota to Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and eastern Colorado.

Canada also agreed to streamline the process for testing U.S. potatoes for bacterial ring rot. Instead of requiring U.S. potatoes exported to Canada to first be tested in the United States and then again when they reach Canada, the potatoes now will be tested only in Canada.

The agreement, the result of the recent U.S.-Canada consultative committee on agriculture meeting, takes effect immediately.

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will open an office early next year in Ottawa to address regulatory obstacles to U.S. agricultural trade and facilitate passenger pre-clearance activities at Canada's major airports.