Accompanied by some of his agriculture export-oriented sector allies, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz spent five day in Japan this week promoting exports and a Canada-Japan trade deal.
In a callback news conference from Tokyo yesterday, Ritz said Japanese importers and politicians he met were positive about increased trade with Canada.
“The strengthening of this relationship will bring significant benefit to Canadian producers,” said the minister.
Negotiations with Japan for an Economic Partnership Agreement have started, although Ritz said there are no deadlines for completion. The next meeting on the issue is in April.
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He said he used his meeting with agriculture minister Yoshimasa Hayashito discuss agricultural sensitivities on both sides of the table.
For Japan, it is rice, and Canada is not a competitor in that market.
For Canada, there are other sensitive sectors.
“(It’s) our supply management sectors, and it is well understood that we will protect those in any trade agreements,” Ritz said in response to a question about Canada’s sensitive topics. “They recognize that.”
He said he had a “great face-to-face discussion” about a potential trade deal and its benefits.
“We agreed there was much more to be gained than not gained by a Canada-Japan trade partnership.
Ritz said he also met with Japan’s national farm organization and while it was in favour of a Canada-Japan deal, it was not in favour of a Japanese deal within the broader Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiation.
“That stands us in good stead here,” he said.
The minister noted that agri-food exports to Japan last year were worth $4.2 billion, including close to $1.5 billion in canola sales.
Representatives from grain, oilseed and livestock sectors went with Ritz on the trip.
Grain representatives said that while there were questions about changes to the Canadian Grain Commission and the end of the CWB monopoly export status, there were no Japanese concerns about Canada as a reliable supplier of grain.
