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Canada's Attempt to Squash Import Ban
How "Free Trade" and the WTO May Jeopardize Successes in Banning Imports of Seal Products into Europe
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A 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization |
Canada's Attempt to Squash Import Ban How "Free Trade" and the WTO May Jeopardize Successes in Banning Imports of Seal Products into Europe
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Believe it... know it... oppose it. |
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Ottawa prepares WTO challenge on Belgian seal ban The federal government is taking a Belgian ban on seal products to the World Trade Organization, with the fisheries minister saying Canada won't be "a wuss" against European boycotts.
Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn said while other countries have instituted bans because of the harp seal hunt on Canada's East Coast, Belgium has been targeted because it was the first country to do so since the Conservatives took power. As well, Hearn said, Belgium holds an influential position in the European Union. "Other countries are talking about it, and of course a number of our people involved in the industry have asked that we take action," said Hearn, who admitted that Canada has been too docile in the past in dealing with other nations on fisheries management issues. "Canada, for a number of years, has been known as a wuss at the international level.… We are turning that around," he said. "If you want to play those games, then you'll have to fight it in the World Trade Organization circles." Hearn blamed pressure from "animal rights groups, in particular" for leading individual countries. The EU itself has not banned the hunt, although earlier this year agreed to study the humaneness of the hunt. The major markets for seal pelts are in China and Scandinavia. Formally, Canada's next step is called seeking formal consultations through the WTO. Hearn warned the process of challenging the ban, though, could turn out to be complicated.
"If we can get a settlement at the early stages, it won't take long. If it goes to the full dispute settlement mechanisms, it will be lengthy and it will probably be costly," Hearn said. The Canadian government supports the seal hunt, despite waves of protests from international organizations. Hearn said inaccurate information about the hunt is pervasive. Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution that called for an end to the hunt. "With stunning barbarism Canadian hunters swoop in with heavy clubs and stun guns to immobilize these little innocent creatures," California Democrat Tom Lantos — who presented the resolution — said on Monday night. "They are then skinned alive simply so that their soft, white fur can adorn winter coats." Canada banned the hunt of whitecoats in the 1980s, following a royal commission on seals and sealing. Seals must lose their white fur before they can be killed, and most seals are shot to death with rifles. Hakapiks, or hooked clubs, are still used in a small but well-publicized hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. FIVE THINGS JOANNA SMITH August 4, 2007 A SEALER'S LIFE FOR ME 1 Mark Small has been hunting seals off the coast of Newfoundland since the year John Diefenbaker was elected prime minister of Canada. He was 17, one of a family of 11 children, when he first went out on the ice in 1957. Now, at 67, he owns two fishing vessels outfitted with the latest equipment, including a satellite phone, radar and sonar systems, and all the comforts of home like a shower, refrigerator and cooking range. He bought his 65-foot vessel for $1-million in 1998, and picked up a 35-footer for $250,000 in 2004. He took the bigger boat and a crew of eight out on this year's hunt. They caught about 10,000 seals, which at an average of $100 a pelt brought in around $100,000. [HSO: DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ! SEE THE REAL 2007 PRICES HERE] Half the money stayed with him and his boat and the other half was split among the crew members, giving them about $6,000 each. His crew members, who have to obtain licences as assistant sealers from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for $5 each, are not allowed to kill seals. Only professional sealers can do that. The assistants are there to clean the pelts and learn the industry regulations under the captain's direction. After a two-year apprenticeship, they may obtain full licences to become professional sealers. BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE 2 Souring trade relations with Belgium might have many sweet-toothed Canadians worried about how long creamy milk chocolate will be allowed through our ports. As popular as it is, however, chocolate is well down the list of commodities that Belgium sends us. The latest numbers from Industry Canada put chocolate and other cocoa products in 16th place - just above combine harvesters. Last year, Belgium exported $1.96-billion worth of goods to Canada, led by fuels and mineral oils, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products, diamonds and - wait for it - beer. In the other direction, Belgium is Canada's 10th most important export market. We exported $2.39-billion in goods to Belgium in 2006, including rough diamonds, nickel, linseed oil, zinc and durum wheat. FATTY ACIDS 3 Seal oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to have health benefits ranging from lowering cholesterol to reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Nu Tan Furs Inc. operates a manufacturing plant in Catalina, Nfld., that processes seal oil, which is later sold as a dietary supplement in bottles of 120 capsules at an average of $10 a bottle. Sixty people work at the plant, which renders, filters and refines the oil before adding a food-grade antioxidant. The product is shipped to Ontario or Alberta to be put in capsules and then sent back to Newfoundland for bottling and labelling by yet another company. The biggest market for Nu Tan's seal oil capsules is Scandinavia, which accounts for about 45 per cent of business. THE BUSINESS OF CHARITY 4 The International Fund for Animal Welfare Inc. has been leading the fight against Canada's seal hunt for decades. Far from being a cash-strapped grassroots group painting posters in a university student's living room, the IFAW is a major charity with scientists and local program staff operating in 15 regional offices worldwide. The IFAW's U.S. audited financial statement for the year ended June 30, 2006, shows the organization took in $9.9-million (U.S.) in donations and bequests. Total revenues, gains and other supports were $20.1-million. After $17.2-million in expenses, the IFAW had $31.4-million in net assets at the end of the fiscal year. The 2006 annual report shows the Canadian branch devoted 82.3 per cent of its spending to program and institutional costs, and 17.7 per cent to fundraising. KANGAROO SHOES 5 Seals and sealers are not alone in stirring strong feelings. Just look at kangaroos and big-league soccer. David Beckham switched to a synthetic leather version of his kangaroo skin adidas Predator soccer shoes last year out of respect for the vegetarian views of his wife, Victoria. Now the English icon can't change his mind about his footwear, even if Posh would let him. He plays out of Los Angeles for the L.A. Galaxy, and California is down on kangaroo products. Last month the Supreme Court of California upheld a state law banning the sale or import of anything made from kangaroos after a legal battle between animal rights activists and sportswear maker adidas AG. The athletic apparel company argued the state law conflicted with the goals of the federal U.S. Endangered Species Act, which supports Australia's efforts to curb the exploding kangaroo population. Many high-end soccer shoes are made from kangaroo hide, which is considered to be stronger and softer than calfskin.
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