Canaryseed growers continue to face a Mexican standoff getting product delivered to their most important market.
Pulse Canada has been trying to hammer out a permanent solution to a weed seed issue that has disrupted trade with a country that typically accounts for about one-quarter of Canada’s canaryseed sales.
On June 23, Mexico implemented a policy where any shipment containing quarantine weed seeds would be rejected. Two of the prohibited weeds on Mexico’s list are buckwheat and stinkweed, common weeds in Western Canada.
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Canada was able to negotiate an interim arrangement allowing canaryseed shipments testing positive for the quarantine weeds to be re-cleaned in Mexico and then moved to the final destination. That arrangement expired on Sept. 17.
Carl Potts, director of market development with Pulse Canada, said the two sides spent the fall trying to negotiate a permanent solution at the request of importers and exporters but to no avail.
“It has become clear to us that finding that permanent solution in the short-term isn’t going to be possible,” he said.
As a result, Pulse Canada is shifting its strategy back to asking Mexico to re-implement the interim policy for another six months.
“The need to get product flowing again is the highest priority at the moment,” said Potts.
He acknowledged that it is not an ideal solution because it removes the urgency of working toward a permanent fix and temporary solutions can be derailed by changes in government or market conditions.
