Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi, both R-Wyo., said they are pleased that the first steps have been taken to ensure a level playing field for Wyoming and the nation's wheat farmers.

The International Trade Commission (ITC) issued a Preliminary Injury Determination Tuesday indicating that wheat imports from Canada may be injuring the nation's wheat industry. The decision is the first in a series of determinations to be made by the ITC and the U. S. Department of Commerce on whether to assess import duties on Canadian wheat.

"Our farmers and producers have been hit hard by drought these past three years, so this ruling Tuesday by the International Trade Commission brings good news for our U.S. industries," Thomas said. "I am pleased the commission recognized the points addressed in our letter and has agreed to continue to conduct its countervailing duty and antidumping investigations of these products from Canada."

"For the past decade, our wheat farmers have suffered from the effects of Canadian wheat being dumped on U.S. markets. I am pleased that the International Trade Commission has recognized this and has begun to take the necessary steps to end these unfair trade practices once and for all," said Enzi.

Thomas, Enzi and other Senate colleagues urged the ITC in an Oct. 1 letter to begin investigations into the dumping practices of Canadian wheat exporters to the United States.

Today's decision by the ITC allows the Department of Commerce to continue their investigation and take the next step in determining whether dumping or subsidization has occurred by the Canadian government and at what rate.

Wyoming ranked 11th in the nation for spring wheat production for 2001.