	canada vows to fight u s potash action external affairs minister joe clark today vowed to do everything possible to fight the u s action against canadian potash exports but also warned against raising the alarm too early in the dispute in the latest flashpoint in canadian u s  relations the u s international  commission ruled unanimously monday that canadian potash shipments valued at million u s dlrs last year were injuring the u s industry we certainly intend to do everything we can to insure that canadian interests are well protected clark told the house of commons in the daily question period but he said the opposition parties should be careful not to raise false alarms too early the case now goes before the u s commerce department s  division to determine if a duty should be imposed potash producers from new mexico claiming unfair government subsidies are seeking a pct tariff on canada s shipments canada the world s largest potash producer exported mln metric tonnes of potash last year with nearly a third going to the u s most of the potash used in the production of fertilizer comes from provincially owned mines in saskatchewan in the commons liberal member lloyd axworthy branded the ruling as just another  harrassment from the u s and criticized clark s assurances the country s interests would be protected we received exactly the same kind of assurances in the softwood lumber case that was totally fumbled and bumbled axworthy said canada s progressive conservative government agreed to impose a pct duty on its softwood lumber exports earlier this year to end a long and bitter bilateral  dispute with the u s axworthy urged the government to present canada s case to world  authorities under the general agreement on tariffs and  but clark maintained the potash dispute was another example of why canada needs to find a new way to settle bilateral irritants in the free  negotiations under way with the u s what we are seeking to do is put in place a better system clark said meanwhile saskatchewan  minister bob andrew expressed confidence canada would win its case claiming the problem stems from low international commodity prices and not government subsidies the reality of the problem and the injury is caused worldwide he said it s caused by a downturn in the commodity price for fertilizer whether it s potash fertilizer nitrogen fertilizer or whatever reuter 
