• In the fall of 2000, the GGAO lodged a complaint with the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) alleging that the PRC and/or Vietnam was dumping garlic in Canada.
• MacDougall Consulting, (former garlic growers Barb & Alex MacDougall) has been retained by the Association to help prepare our case. Richard Wagner, of Ogilvy Renault has been retained as legal counsel.
• On 29 December 2000, the CITT made a preliminary determination that the case had merit and should proceed to a full public hearing. The preliminary finding pointed to a tariff of $1.59/kg.
• On 2 January 2001, an interim, up-front duty was placed on imports from the PRC and/or Vietnam for $1.59 / kg. This duty is temporary, pending the outcome of the hearing. The Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) is collecting this duty and will keep it if the CITT rules in favour of the GGOA - if not, the money will be returned to the importers.
• Currently the CCRA and the CITT are conducting their respective investigations. The investigation includes soliciting responses from a sample of garlic growers in Ontario and across Canada in regards to their specific operations.
• On 2 April 2001, there will be a public hearing in Ottawa.
• The final decision of the CITT is expected on 2 May 2001.
• For more information regarding the case, check out www.citt.gov.ca and www.garlicgrowers.on.ca

If you are interested in this issue, we urge you to attend an upcoming meeting of the Garlic Growers Association of Ontario, held around the Horticultural Crops Conference in Hamilton, 12-13 Feb, 2001. For more information about the OHCC or the GGAO see www.ontariohortcrops.org and www.garlicgrowers.on.ca respectively.