Marie-Claude Bibeau discusses the implications of the federal government’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy
Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau met with farm organizations at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina last week to discuss the government’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy.
The strategy includes investing $31.8 million in a new office in the region. The location hasn’t yet been decided. Bibeau said the government will consult with industry and stakeholders to determine the best spot.
She said Agribition, held Nov. 28 to Dec. 3, was a good place to talk about increasing exports because of the show’s focus on international trade and because Saskatchewan farmers help push Canada’s agri-food exports to new records every year.
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“Our government wants to keep moving the needle because exports strengthen our economy as well as food security around the world,” she said.
Over the next decade the Indo-Pacific Strategy plans to deepen Canada’s engagement with 40 economies in the fastest growing region of the world.
The area is Canada’s second-largest regional export market, after the United States, with $26.5 billion in annual two-way trade in agri-food and seafood in 2021.
Bibeau said the main goals are to strengthen partnerships, advance technical collaboration and share expertise, and to situate Canada as a preferred supplier in markets like Vietnam and the Philippines.
“By 2030 the region will be home to two-thirds of the global middle class, a key target market for Canadian farmers and food processors,” she said.
Canadian Cattle Association director Ryan Beierbach said beef exports to that part of the world continue to grow.
“In 2021, our industry hit a new export record of $4.5 billion and a large part of that was due to our access to the Indo-Pacific region,” he said. “We look forward to working with the ag ministry to increase in those areas.”
He said Canadian beef’s strong environmental record is an asset in that regard.
Todd Lewis, Canadian Federation of Agriculture vice-president, said Canada has to play catch-up to the U.S. in the region and a new office will help.
Bibeau told reporters that Canada wants to take full advantage of the trans-Pacific trade agreement, and having trade experts and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in the region will help open new markets.
China is part of the Indo-Pacific region.
“I think China will remain an important market, but sometimes unpredictable,” she said. “By having a Canadian presence over there we will have this opportunity to diversify our markets and it is very important because we have the greatest produce.”
Lewis said that canola growers have had their challenges with China’s embargoes and perhaps seeing how important Canadian canola is to other countries will make China a better customer.
He also said farmers would like to see provinces and the federal government work together on all trade. Saskatchewan has opened its own offices in various regions, including the Indo-Pacific.
Bibeau also reminded producers that the government’s fertilizer emissions reduction target is voluntary.
“We have ambitious targets in terms of reducing emissions but nothing is mandatory,” she said.
