The U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced it will slap tariffs ranging from 1.6 to five per cent on fresh mushrooms from Canada, according to a preliminary decision in its investigation into whether farming operations are unfairly subsidized. (The Logic)

Talking point: The U.S. began probing Canada’s exports of mushrooms in January in response to a petition by Fresh Mushrooms Fair Trade Coalition. The group, representing major U.S. producers, argued Canadian mushroom farmers benefit from mainstream government support, including Farm Credit Canada loans, the federal clean technology investment tax credit and farm machinery being exempt from the B.C. provincial sales tax. “This is an unprecedented take,” said Ryan Koeslag, executive vice-president of the Canadian Mushroom Growers’ Association. It could be the basis for an argument that “all of agriculture is therefore being subsidized,” he said.