A number of trade related achievements can be highlighted, viz.:

 Canned Meat Imports - Council and interested members obtained a successful countervail action (duty) in 1984 against subsidized canned meat from Denmark and the Netherlands. In 1989/1990, and again in 1994/1995, the Council very successfully defended the earlier action, securing the continued countervail duty on these products.

 US Pork Countervail - Joint industry activity, spearheaded by Council leadership, succeeded in having a 1985 countervail duty removed from fresh and processed pork shipped to the U.S.A. However, the US pork producers brought a new case; again, a countervail duty was applied. The industry, through persistent defence, won this case in 1991. Accordingly, cash deposits of an estimated $24 million were refunded to Canadian pork exporters.

 US I.T.C. 221 Study of Canadian Cattle and Beef Industry - In March 1987, the Council filed a detailed statement of fact regarding Canadian beef trade with the U.S. This presentation assisted in defusing the volatile, protectionist-oriented U.S. cattle interests. Again in 1992, a similar defence was launched. Finally, Council closely monitored a similar fact-finding study launched in 1996.

 Australia Pork Dumping Challenge - Through joint Council action, members secured a negative determination from the Australian Customs Service and the Anti-Dumping Authority.

 EU Hormone Ban - In 1996, Canada launched a formal complaint against the EU ban on imported beef from cattle treated with growth promotants. Council provided support and comment on the Canadian position.

 Canada Pork International - The Council is a joint partner with the Canadian Pork Council, representing hog producers, in the creation of CPI. With a mandate to expand pork exports and to enhance market access, the hog slaughtering members of the Council and the tradinghouses are all members of CPI.

 Canada Beef Export Federation - Council was involved in the original drive to establish CANBEF. With objectives similar to CPI, many beef members of the Council are active members of this beef export market development agency.

 Australian Pork Safeguard Inquiry - in August 1998, the Government of Australia asked the Productivity Commission of Australia to advise on the role of safeguard action i.e., quota/tariff, etc. to protect the Australian hog producers from the alleged damaging effects of Canadian pork imports. The Canadian Meat Council and the Canadian Pork Council, supported by the Government of Canada (DFAIT and AAFC), retained trade and legal counsel to counter the Australian challenge.

 U.S. State Protests - in the summer of 1998, several U.S. states, led by South Dakota, initiated border inspections targeted at Canadian livestock and grain. The Canadian Meat Council insisted this "lawless" conduct, spawned by the coming U.S. elections and producer discontent with low commodity prices must cease immediately. The Canadian Government received assurance from the USTR and the USDA that the states would withdraw their harassment tactics, and in return the federal governments of Canada and the U.S. would engage in joint bilateral discussion in an attempt to resolve the trade issues bothering both nations.

 U.S. Country of Origin Labelling - viewed as another protectionist initiative, the Canadian Meat Council and Canadian Cattlemen's Association, supported by the federal government, protested the legislation designed to disclose the country of origin of beef and lamb on retail packages in U.S. stores. The proposal would have required beef products from Canadian cattle exported to the U.S. to maintain Canadian identity - a clear conflict with rules of origin set out in the CUSTA and the WTO agreements. This matter has now been placed in study. No doubt it will reappear.

 U.S. Petition for Countervail and Anti-Dumping Duty on Canadian Live Cattle - The Ranchers' and Cattlemen's Legal Action Committee, commonly known as R-CALF, has petitioned U.S. Commerce seeking a cvd and dumping duty on Canadian live cattle. The Canadian Cattlemen's Association is actively fighting the challenge, while the Canadian Meat Council is a very keen observer on this issue.

 With the next round of WTO negotiations scheduled to kick off in 1999, the Canadian "free traders" have established the Alliance of Canadian Agri-Food Exporters to develop and advance to the Canadian negotiators a sound trade policy position designed to enhance Canada's presence in global markets.

 At the same time, the American Meat Institute invited the Canadian Meat Council and their Mexican counterparts to a round of discussions which culminated in the establishment of a North American Meat Trade Alliance designed to help coordinate a consistent trade policy for the North American industry.