Canada unfairly subsidizes pork, the U.S. ruled.

The Commerce Department issued a preliminary ruling that, if upheld, would subject Canadian pork to a tax equal to the subsidy, which it calculated to be 3.9 cents a pound. Agriculture Secretary John R. Block, whose family farm produces hogs, said the decision shows the government’s intent to challenge unfair trade practices in agriculture. The National Pork Producers Council hailed the decision, contending that subsidies allowed Canadian shipments of live hogs to nearly triple since 1984 along with sharp rises in shipments of fresh and frozen pork.