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Trade Issues Geneva Watch CFC Trade Position Canadian Federation of Agriculture Trade Policy Statement Canadian Egg, Dairy and Poultry Farmers' Trade Policy Position Poultry Industry Trade Position

Chicken Farmers of Canada Trade Position

Introduction

Agriculture is an essential part of Canada's economy. Canadian farm activities are the backbone of many rural communities and contribute significantly to the success and standard of living of a significant number of Canadians. In fact, the future of many of these communities is tightly intertwined with the future success of the Canadian agricultural sector. It is also a positive contributor to its social and political fabric.

Agriculture is not just another industrial sector. Unlike other primary industries, its activities are carried out by a large number of individual farms facing a relatively small (and shrinking) number of large buyers. The Canadian chicken processing sector provides striking evidence of this structure. Four companies buy almost 50% of the chicken produced by Canada's 2800 chicken farmers. The top 12 processing companies buy almost 75%. This concentration is even more pronounced at the retail level, where 4 companies dominate the Canadian grocery sector.

The chicken industry is a good example of what agriculture means to rural Canada. Our orderly marketing system has provided stability, and growth, to rural communities in all ten provinces. It has also provided a solid base from which the industry has been able to expand in Canada and more recently, beyond our borders. As the Canadian chicken industry continues its efforts to be more efficient, it is imperative that government support for our orderly marketing system be maintained, including the defense of our negotiated international rights to maintain tariffs. Such a stable policy environment will allow our industry to continue to contribute to a vibrant rural economy in Canada, and allow the entire Canadian chicken industry to continue its phenomenal growth.

It is of paramount importance that before, during and after the upcoming WTO trade negotiations on agriculture, the federal government allow the evolution of chicken supply management to be pursued.

The Uruguay Round

As the Canadian chicken industry has never used export subsidies to gain access to foreign markets, nor had recourse to domestic support through government subsidies, the most significant impact on the Canadian chicken industry originating from the Final Act of the Uruguay Round signed by Ministers on April 15, 1994 in Marrakesh, was the conversion of import quotas to tariff-rate quotas (TRQ), a conversion process commonly referred to as tariffication. The intent of tariffication was to provide a level of border control which was identical to the control provided by the previous import quota system. That objective is valid today and for the future.

However, the sound administration of the TRQ regime can only be efficiently performed if the terms of market access provided by the TRQ are effectively controlled. To this effect, over-quota tariffs must be maintained at a level that ensures no more access than the intended level of the TRQ.

Before entering into any new commitments, Canadian negotiators must also ensure that all WTO members have fully implemented their existing WTO commitments, and that new rules are negotiated to ensure equivalency of WTO commitments amongst all WTO members. Other countries must provide the same level of ''real'' market access that Canada already provides, before Canada considers any further opening of its market.

General Principles

Chicken Farmers of Canada have adopted this aggressive trade position that focuses on achieving concrete and realistic results that target the most trade distorting measures. We support eliminating export subsidies, increasing disciplines governing domestic support and seeking "real" improvements on market access, that would result in a more level playing field for all farmers.

1.	A WTO agriculture agreement must achieve positive results for all sectors of the Canadian chicken industry and recognize the importance of collective marketing tools for farmers.

Future negotiations should result in the improvement of the Canadian chicken industry's livelihood, and should ensure that farmers' marketing structures are not subject to stricter rules than private corporations face.

2.	WTO agriculture negotiations must focus on achieving concrete and measurable results that are realistic for WTO members.

As stated in Article 20 of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture, future negotiations must take into account the experience to date on implementing the reduction commitments and their effects on world agriculture.

In order to provide real and achievable access, upcoming negotiations should focus on reducing the most trade distorting support; and targeting those WTO members that are the worst offenders.

3.	CFC is opposed to the concept of an initial down payment in the areas of market access and domestic support.

WTO agriculture negotiations should not unduly disrupt agriculture markets. The risk of a significant initial down payment will generate a great deal of uncertainty and thereby prevent expansion of markets by deferring or canceling investment decisions. Accelerating this uncertainty is the undecided time frame for the negotiations and the implementation period.

4.	A WTO agreement must preserve the ability of Canadians to continue supply management and those marketing structures necessary for the stability and profitability of Canadian agriculture.

The necessary tools to operate an effective domestic supply management system must be maintained. Supply management has allowed stability and continuous growth of the chicken industry in Canada without the need of government funds.

5.	Commitments by the Canadian federal government impacting on international trade of chicken products must only be negotiated under the auspices of the WTO and modalities of bilateral and regional trade agreements should be harmonized to the WTO.

The WTO is the only forum where the vast majority of countries have committed to discipline their support and access for agricultural products. The WTO agreements provide the basis for all negotiations.

While continuing to honour its commitments, Canada should harmonize the bilateral and regional trade agreements to the WTO modalities in order to use identical reference periods, product group definitions and market access measures.

6.	The federal government must not make trade-offs between agricultural commodities, nor between agriculture and another sector of the Canadian economy.

Benefits of trade agreements should not be achieved in one sector at the expense of another.

7.	Zero-for-zero for specific commodities.

The federal government can pursue zero-for-zero initiatives for specific sectors that want to further liberalize their own trade, as long as these initiatives are not linked to any other negotiating issues or commitments.

Export Competition

Export subsidies are the most trade distorting measures causing decline in world prices. They must be eliminated.

8.	Eliminate all export subsidies.

The European Union and the United States are the largest users of export subsidies for agricultural products. Not only can Canada not compete with the public treasuries of these two large trade players, it has already eliminated all of its export subsidies.

Other export promotion tools such as export credits and food aid should be governed by WTO rules.

Domestic Support

Support provided must be subject to a cap to ensure minimal trade distortions while recognizing that the specific characteristics of agricultural production often require a minimal level of support.

9.	Discipline governing domestic support with the imposition of a cap on all categories of support.

An overall cap should be imposed on total domestic support and measured as a percentage of the total value of production.

Maintain the de-minimis exemption for amber box programs to allow countries to maintain a minimal level of support that is often critical to offset cycles encountered in agricultural production.

Eliminate blue box programs.

Harmonize the definition of green programs and Canada's domestic agriculture policy. The Canadian government must match the level of green support given to our competitors in other countries.

10.

Maintain the measurement of support at the aggregate level.

Domestic support programs should be reported on an aggregate basis to allow flexibility to address the specific nature of agriculture, and to include all programs, either commodity specific or generally available.

Market Access

In order to achieve significant improvements, this position proposes concrete measures that address the real impediments inhibiting market access. Simple tariffs should be reduced as much as possible, or converted into TRQs. Real access gains for TRQs, will only be achieved by ensuring that in-quota tariffs and TRQ administration are such that the negotiated level of in-quota access is achievable.

11.

Over-quota tariffs negotiated at the WTO must be maintained.

Over-quota tariffs are an essential tool that allows us to operate a domestic supply management system. Without effective over-quota tariffs, it would become impossible to have predictable and stable supply on the domestic market.

Over-quota tariffs provide the means to determine the level of in-quota access, and must be maintained at levels that ensure no more access than the committed level of the TRQ.

12.

All countries must provide equivalent market access.

Clear and binding rules governing market access must be established to ensure all countries provide 5% market access.

There should be no further expansion of our level of market access until all countries match our access.

13.

In-quota tariffs should be reduced to zero.

"Real" market access without any impediments should be provided for the in-quota access of the TRQ.

14.

Make TRQ administration equitable and fair.

Maintain Canada's right to administer TRQs in a manner that best suits the requirements of our domestic market and supports the goals of our agricultural marketing structures and agri-food industries, including the right to designate the market segments that receive in-quota imports, provided it does not impede the level of committed access.

Remove all country-specific TRQ allocations so that access is available on a true MFN (most favoured nation) basis.

15.

Reduce simple tariffs or convert them into TRQs.

Simple tariffs that effectively restrict access to a market should be reduced or converted into a TRQ to ensure that real market access is provided.

16.

Establish an international definition of product groups.

Standards should be established to define common specific product groups (e.g. chicken) for all WTO members.

Common specific product groups will ensure that countries are not able to use aggregation or disaggregation of products to circumvent their market access commitments.

17.

Treat primary and processed forms of products equally.

Access should be provided for primary or processed products on the same basis.

18.

Fully implement existing WTO commitments in agriculture.

Ensure that all WTO members have fully implemented their existing WTO commitments before Canada enters into any new commitments.

Market access should be provided on an equivalent basis, using the same reference period for all agriculture products.

Other Issues

19.

Remove sanitary and phytosanitary barriers that are not based on sound, and internationally accepted science.

Addressing the SPS measures that are often used as disguised trade barriers would significantly contribute to a "real" improvement in market access.

20.

Maintain the WTO special agricultural safeguard.

The WTO special agricultural safeguard must be maintained in case of special circumstances that could drastically undermine a domestic production sector.

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Rolling Nutrition Tips

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A 100g serving of chicken breast contains 33% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin B6.

A 100g serving of chicken breast contains 86% of your recommended daily intake of niacin.

Trans fats decrease HDL (good) cholesterol and increase LDL (bad) cholesterol. Read the Nutrition Label on your purchases before buying.

Although chicken skin adds to the fat content it does contain protein, phosphorous, iron, calcium and Vitamin A.

About two thirds of the fat in chicken is in the skin. Make a healthier choice by cooking with it on but taking it off before serving.

Canada’s Food Guide recommends male adults have 3 servings per day of meat or meat alternatives and women have 2 servings per day.

Barbecuing, broiling or roasting chicken allows the fat to drip off making chicken an even healthier choice!

Chicken is Canada’s favourite meat!

Chicken is high in protein, niacin, Vitamin B6, Selenium, and Phosphorus.

Choosing a healthy cooking option, like barbecuing, makes for a low-fat choice.

A 130g grilled skinless chicken breast contains 192 calories and 2.9g of fat.

A 130g grilled chicken breast with skin contains 225 calories and 8.3g of fat.

White chicken meat is lower in fat than dark meat.

A 3oz serving of chicken yields just 70 mg of cholesterol.

Chicken is easy to digest.

Chicken is the sensible choice for lean eaters!

Chicken is lower in saturated fats than salmon.

Skinless chicken breast has less fat content than sirloin steak, pot roast, hamburger, beef tenderloin, pork chops, and ham.

A 140kg roasted skinless chicken breast has 1g of saturated fat.

A 140kg roasted skinless chicken breast has 0 carbohydrates.

A 140kg roasted skinless chicken breast provides 43g of protein.

A 140kg roasted skinless chicken breast has 231 calories.

Skinless chicken is a healthy food choice.

Plant proteins are considered incomplete because they only contain a little of one or more of the indispensable amino acids.

Chicken thighs and legs contain more iron than breast meat.

Butter, hard margarines, and fried foods contain saturated and trans fats (bad fats).

Canada’s Food Guide recommends choosing lean meats prepared and served with little or no added fat.

Too much cholesterol is not good for your heart. Choose a healthy way to prepare your chicken.

We need cholesterol in our bodies for hormone production, cell metabolism and other vital processes.

Cholesterol-containing foods are part of a healthy lifestyle when eaten in moderation.

Help your heart keep chugging by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and eating well.

Start a healthy balanced diet; one that includes fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and lean meats like chicken.

Heart disease is the number one killer of Canadians. Help reduce your chances by eating chicken.

Chicken provides the protein nourishment you need to stay healthy and fit.

Make sure you choose leaner cuts of chicken, beef, pork, turkey, fish, milk and dairy products.

Protein foods such as chicken are an important source of energy, make you feel fuller and do not have much effect on blood sugars.

Eating healthy and exercising 150 minutes per week is great habit to get into!

Keeping a healthy weight by eating chicken is an effective way to manage your blood sugar.

Offer children healthy snacks with chicken.

Serve lean meats such as chicken.

A skinless chicken breast has only 1 gram of saturated fat.

Keep mostly healthy, nutritious foods including chicken in the house.

Skinless chicken is low in saturated fats.

Chicken is a good choice for a low-carb diet.

Parents can be good food role models for their kids by preparing healthy meals including chicken.

More and more Canadian kids are overweight or obese. Lean meat like chicken is a healthy food option.

Eating chicken and other lean meats can contribute to a healthy heart.

Eating chicken and other lean meats can benefit your healthy lifestyle.

For a protein rich meal choose low fat chicken products.

A 100g, roasted chicken breast has 33g of protein and 2.1g of fat.

Chicken, whole grain breads, whole fruits and vegetables, and nuts have a low Glycemic index level.

Are you a dark meat fan? You’re not alone! Dark meat has more iron and zinc than white meat.

Did you know that one serving of lean meat is about the size of a deck of cards?

Fad diets come and go. Any diet that severely restricts certain food groups is not healthy in the long term and may have serious consequences. The best approach to diet is a balanced one, with many fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and lean meats.

Kids are back at school. Make extra chicken to put in their lunch in either a salad or sandwich. The protein will help keep them going all day.

Fat free doesn't mean calorie free. Check the label for serving size and calorie content. Remember, if you double the serving size than you double the calorie content too.

Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating recommends eating 2 to 3 servings of meat or meat substitutes daily. It also suggests choosing lean meats, prepared and served with little or no added fat.

Plant proteins are considered incomplete proteins because they only contain a little of one or more of the indispensable amino acids. Animal proteins are complete proteins with all 9 amino acids that closely match our needs.

Recent evidence suggests that protein and calcium-rich foods of animal origin may play an important role in promoting healthy weight.

To improve your absorption of iron, eat iron rich foods with good sources of Vitamin C (fruits and vegetables).

Your body absorbs minerals such as iron and zinc much better when they come from animal foods rather than plant sources.

To make gravy without added fat, blend a Tbsp of cornstarch with a cup of room-temperature broth by shaking the two together in a tightly lidded jar. Then heat the rest of the broth in a saucepan and add the blended liquid. Simmer until thickened.

Barbecuing, broiling or roasting chicken allows the fat to drip off. When you're cooking a roast, try placing chicken on a wire roasting rack.

Read the ingredient list on the packaged food you buy. The ingredients are listed in order, meaning that the product contains the most of the first ingredient listed and the least of the last ingredient listed.

Do you get a mid-afternoon craving? Instead of reaching for that chocolate bar or chips, try having some yogurt, cheese, fruit or other nutritious low fat snack

Try cutting back on your salt intake. To add more flavour to your food, try adding more spices and less salt.

Which is better, white or dark meat? That is a matter of opinion. Some like dark meat, while others prefer white. It is all a matter of personal likes and tastes. Dark meat has more iron and zinc than white meat.

Limit your intake of trans fats. These fats decrease HDL (good) cholesterol and increase LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Chicken is a source of high quality complete protein that contains all essential amino acids.

Milk products, lean meats, poultry, fish and eggs are important sources of many essential nutrients.

Try to choose foods that are lower in fat and sugar. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy an occasional treat, just do it in moderation.

Eat a balanced diet. Health Canada recommends eating 5 to 12 servings of grain products, 5 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 to 4 servings of milk products, and 2 to 3 servings of meat and alternatives every day.

Many Canadians consume too many of their daily calories from the “other food” group, which consists of mainly foods high in sugar and fat.

Fats are important! Fats are not only a source of energy but a source of essential fatty acids.

Two-thirds of Canadians are concerned about their fat intake. Did you know that no more than 30% of your total calorie intake should be from fat?

Try to limit your consumption of trans and saturated fats.

Try serving barley with your next chicken meal. Barley is high in soluble fiber and tastes great with chicken.

Did you know that all chicken in Canada is grain-fed and that no hormones or steroids are used? In fact, the use of hormones or steroids was banned in the 60’s.

Removing the skin from chicken parts before or after cooking doesn't affect the fat content – but eating it does! About two thirds of the fat in chicken is in the skin. But you may not want to run away from it just yet. Chicken skin has protein, phosphorous, iron, calcium and Vitamin A!

More is not necessarily better. Vitamins A, D, iron, zinc and selenium are toxic in high doses. High doses of Vitamin B6 and fluoride have harmful side effects.

Zinc is a trace mineral that is found in every cell of your body. Zinc is necessary for growth and reproduction, it supports immunity, wound healing and helps maintain your sense of taste and smell. The best sources of zinc are foods of animal origin such as poultry, meat, liver and seafood.

Meat, poultry and fish contain heme iron which is better absorbed by the body. Did you know that women aged 19 to 50 require 18 milligrams of iron per day.

Know what you are eating – read the label!

Purchase lean cuts of meat more often and trim off any visible fat.

Chicken has plenty of amino acids, which are important for the growth, maintenance and repair of body tissues, muscles and cells.

All chicken in Canada is grain-fed and raised without the use of hormones or steroids.

Chicken is a good source of phosphorous. Phosphorous is important for healthy bones and teeth.

When cooking with oil, choose oils that are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Boneless, skinless thighs are great in any Asian dish, or chicken dishes that require a long cooking time. The meat stays juicier longer and contains more iron and zinc.

Chicken is a good source of pantothenic acid, which plays a role in the release of energy for metabolism.

Chicken thighs and legs contain more iron than breast meat. A 100 gram serving of chicken breast contains 7% of the recommended daily intake of iron while a chicken leg contains 10%.

A single serving of meat is 100 grams which is about the size and thickness of a deck of cards.

Chicken is an excellent source of Vitamin B6, required for protein metabolism and amino acid synthesis.

Chicken is a lean protein choice. A 100 gram portion of skinless chicken breast contains only 2.1 grams of fat and 33 grams of protein.

Try using juice (cranberry, lemon, orange) or low fat yogurt to create a low fat sauce for your chicken.

Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating recommends eating 2 to 3 servings of meat or meat substitutes daily. It also suggests choosing lean meats, prepared and served with little or no added fat.

With protein, amino acids, niacin, vitamin B6, iron, zinc and so much more, this affordable and delicious product can be a part of a healthy diet for all Canadians!

Keeping the skin on the chicken while cooking helps keep it moist. Take the skin off before eating it to reduce the fat content.

Chicken is an excellent source if niacin. Niacin helps to build and maintain healthy skin, and aids in the digestion and absorption of food.

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