"The United States is very disappointed by Canada's decision today imposing excessive provisional duties on imports of U.S. grain corn. We have an integrated North American food and feed market, and imports of U.S. corn are critical to the economic viability of Canada's livestock, distilled spirits, and food processing industries.

"Canada has conducted two prior investigations of U.S. corn imports, revoking a countervailing duty order after a GATT panel decision was adopted in 1992 and finding no injury in a second investigation in 2001. We believe that Canada should again find that U.S. corn imports are not injuring Canadian corn growers and that the unwarranted provisional duties announced today should therefore be terminated. While Canada's corn production has increased, its domestic corn demand still cannot be met through domestic production alone. In fact, imports of U.S. corn into Canada are down over the past two years. Twenty Canadian corn user groups have expressed their opposition to this case moving forward.

"The United States government will continue to argue its case with the Canadian investigative agencies and defend the interests of U.S. corn producers and exporters as the inquiries move forward."