Saskatchewan’s long-standing agricultural relationship with China was encapsulated for premier Lorne Calvert when he saw the Alvin Hamilton Room in the Beijing embassy.
Hamilton, from Saskatchewan, was agriculture minister in the John Diefenbaker government and the negotiator of the first large wheat sales to China, on credit, in 1960.
Calvert said Saskatchewan was the first province to trade with China.
“They know us well,” he told reporters during an Oct. 25 conference call from the Chinese city.
“This historic relationship is important in China.”
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The premier met with China’s vice-minister of agriculture during a trade mission. Among the issues they discussed was verticilum wilt in alfalfa.
Since July 2002, China has refused to accept untreated alfalfa seed from Saskatchewan, but all other producers have unrestricted access. The ban arose from incorrect information provided to a Chinese delegation by a federal official in Alberta. China considers Saskatchewan an infected area and requires seed to be treated with fungicide.
“We expect to see the alfalfa issue resolved in a short period of time,” Calvert said.
Final testing is under way and
China has agreed that if the tests are negative, it will reassess its restrictions on alfalfa seed.
Calvert also raised BSE and the disparity between tariffs on canola seed and soybeans. He met with Cofco, the largest importer of wheat and barley.
He noted that Chinese farmers are realizing the benefits of fertilizer and that could lead to growth for Saskatchewan potash in that market. He met with Sinochem, China’s main potash importer.
Other stops on the trade mission included Hong Kong, Japan and
Kazakhstan.
