Abstinence and the Single Desk: Canada – US Wheat Trade Relations in a post-CWB World

The elimination of the single-desk monopsony/monopoly granted to the Canadian Wheat Board for western Canadian milling wheat acquisitions and sales will have ramifications for Canadian-U.S. trade relations. This article speculates on the volume of future north/south wheat trade flows. Given this perspective on trade prospects, an examination of the history of Canada-U.S. wheat trade disputes is considered. Historical experience is then used to gauge the potential for future trade remedy actions. The prospects for future contingent protection measures – antidumping and countervailing duties – are then considered, and possible steps for policy makers, farmers, and agribusinesses are presented.