The Canadian Wheat Board has claimed victory in a World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute with the United States over its collective marketing systems of wheat and grain.


Ahead of a formal release of a verdict by a disputes panel, the board is claiming the WTO found that its system largely follows global trading rules because the board is controlled by farmers, not Ottawa, and so abides by free market principles: getting the best return for grain.


The Canadian government has admitted that the WTO criticised the system for favouring domestic grain over imported stocks, however. US trade officials claim Canadian rail freight pricing policies are unfair, for instance.