International Trade committee  Certainly, especially for very sophisticated markets such as Japan where, in the medium term, this may become a sales or purchase requirement. It is not only a matter of traceability. We need to promote our entire production and inspection system more intensely, especially since we are well ahead of just about every other country in the world.

International Trade committee  We diversified. That does not mean that our sales to the U.S. declined during this period. Indeed, they doubled, but we also worked very hard to open up all the other markets in the world. Fortunately, moreover, because otherwise our situation would not be what it now is. Market access has always been our main priority.

International Trade committee  I have to mention that it's primarily the Canadian Pork Council that is handling the country-of-origin labelling, but I can still comment on your question. The impact is really on the exports of live hogs. As you've noticed, they were cut almost by half over the previous year. The indirect impact is that by having fewer hogs go the U.S., there are more hogs being killed in Canada, which means that we have more pork to export--which is an odd way of doing it, but that's the way it's happening.

International Trade committee  That is a question worth millions of dollars.

International Trade committee  Since the old days of PEMD-I, the program has changed names many times. It's been named AIMS, CAFI, and now it's called AgriMarketing. Those expenses were covered under the agri-marketing program. CPI has received some financial support from the program, but our contract has been terminated--not terminated, but we now have access to the international pork marketing fund, which is a $17 million envelope up front that we received last August, and it's for four years.

International Trade committee  Usually the countries that sign an agreement with the European Union make sure they are not subject to export subsidies down the road, and I would suspect the Koreans did the same thing. Talking about the European subsidies, they do have export subsidies, you're right. On top of that, they also have a subsidy for private storage.

International Trade committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Good morning, gentlemen. Let me introduce our organization first. Canada Pork International is the export market development agency of the Canadian pork industry. We are a joint initiative of the Canadian Pork Council and the Canadian Meat Council.

Agriculture committee  No, the reason for the decline is the COOL program.

Agriculture committee  ...in piglet and live animal exports.

Agriculture committee  The explanation is quite simple, because we're talking about two different things. You're talking about live hogs, while I am talking about pork.

Agriculture committee  The ones I gave you are correct.

Agriculture committee  We're talking about piglets and live hogs. However, in reality, the numbers are higher, because these calculations are for last year, and exports had already begun to drop before then.

Agriculture committee  I will ask Mr. Preugschas to answer that question.

Agriculture committee  That's just on pork.

Agriculture committee  First, when you talk about a free trade agreement or a veterinary agreement, it's the government's responsibility. The industry can promote our products once the door is open, but to open the door is the government's responsibility.