Ottawa | Reuters — A trade dispute settlement panel set up under a major North American free trade agreement has rejected a U.S. complaint that Canada is improperly limiting access to its dairy market, an official report showed on Friday. The United States had accused Canada of not meeting obligations under the 2020 Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement […] Read more

CUSMA panel rejects U.S. complaint on access to Canada dairy market
Canada 'very pleased' with dispute settlement panel findings

Canada says will join as third party in U.S.-Mexico corn dispute
Mexico's measures 'not scientifically supported,' ministers say
Reuters — Canada said Friday it will participate as a third party in dispute settlement proceedings between the U.S. and Mexico regarding genetically modified (GM) corn in imported tortillas and dough, citing concerns about Mexico’s stance on the matter. The decision follows Washington’s request for a dispute settlement panel through the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which […] Read more

NAFTA meeting to skirt major disputes, U.S. trade rep says
Dairy, corn, energy issues to be discussed via separate channels
Washington | Reuters — U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s meetings with North American trade partners Canada and Mexico this week will not delve deeply into major disputes over Mexico’s biotech corn and energy policies nor Canadian dairy access, a senior USTR official said on Wednesday. The annual meeting of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Free Trade […] Read more

Canada gets in on U.S. trade challenge of Mexico’s GM corn ban
Canada to have third party role in CUSMA dispute consultations
A U.S. challenge under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement (CUSMA), against Mexico’s planned ban on genetically modified corn, will now also have Canada at the table. Rob Stewart, Canada’s deputy minister for international trade, wrote Friday to U.S. and Mexican trade officials, formally announcing Canada’s intent to take part in the CUSMA dispute settlement consultations […] Read more

U.S. escalates dispute with Mexico over GM corn
Canada 'considering next steps'
Mexico City | Reuters — The U.S. is escalating its conflict with Mexico over agriculture biotech measures, including the stance on genetically modified (GM) corn, by requesting dispute settlement consultations, senior officials of the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said on Friday. The North American neighbours are inching closer to a full-blown trade dispute under the […] Read more

New U.S. ag trade chief demands Canada broaden dairy quota access
USTR's new ag rep's eyes also on Mexico GM corn ban
Washington | Reuters — Canada must let U.S. processors of cheese, ice cream, yogurt, milk powder and other dairy products have access to its import quotas to resolve a second U.S. dairy trade challenge, Washington’s new agricultural trade boss told Reuters. Doug McKalip, chief agricultural trade negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, told Reuters […] Read more

U.S. seeks new dispute panel over Canadian dairy imports
Panel would be second on matter since CUSMA took effect
Washington | Reuters — The United States on Tuesday said it was seeking a second trade dispute settlement panel over Canada’s dairy import quotas, charging that Canada was still not meeting obligations to open its market to U.S. producers. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office said it was challenging Canada’s revised tariff-rate quota (TRQ) allocations that […] Read more

U.S. wants WTO dispute system fixed by 2024
Appeals body frozen since Trump era; Washington 'very committed' to reform
Geneva | Reuters — The United States is entering a third phase of talks with countries to reform the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) hobbled trade dispute arbitration system and aims for it to be “fully functioning” by the end of 2024, the U.S. ambassador to the WTO told Reuters on Thursday. The WTO’s appeals bench, […] Read more

U.S. seeks another CUSMA dispute panel on Canadian dairy quotas
Canada announced revised policies last week
Ottawa | Reuters — The Biden administration is requesting that a second dispute settlement panel be formed under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) to review a trade dispute with Canada over dairy import quotas, it said on Wednesday. The U.S. alleges that Canada’s dairy tariff-rate quota allocations deny eligible U.S. applicants, including retailers, access to Canadian […] Read more

U.S. requests CUSMA dispute panel on Canadian dairy quotas
TRQs improperly allocated, USTR alleges
Washington | Reuters — The Biden administration on Tuesday escalated a simmering trade dispute with Canada over dairy import quotas, requesting that the first dispute settlement panel under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement be formed to review the matter. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office said its complaint alleges that Canada was improperly allocating CUSMA tariff-rate import quotas […] Read more