CANCUN, Mexico – Within weeks, federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief is expected to appoint Canada’s first roving trade envoy, who will be charged with trying to build support for Canadian trade rule goals at home and abroad.
“I haven’t written a mandate and I haven’t picked a person but I’m leaning toward doing it,” he said in an interview shortly after the collapse of World Trade Organization negotiations in this Mexican resort Sept. 14. “I expect to have something to say on this within a short period of time.”
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The Canadian Federation of Agriculture first made the proposal to the agriculture minister several years ago. Industry sources say Vanclief will be looking for someone with close industry ties and a foot in both camps of the Canadian farm policy divide – the protected supply managed sectors and the export industry.
Vanclief is expected to designate an official who would work with Canadian farmers to promote common ground between those who want the trade emphasis to be on reducing protection and pursuing export markets, and those who want to preserve the tariff structure that protects dairy, poultry and egg producers from uncontrolled import competition.
During the continuing WTO negotiations, the trade envoy will be expected to promote Canada’s position to other countries, looking for allies willing to support Canada’s push for better access for exporters and the flexibility to protect import-sensitive sectors as long as some access to their markets is granted.
“I certainly think in the present context of continuing WTO talks, there would be value in having someone whose job is to promote the Canadian position here and around the world,” said Vanclief.
Several other countries have a designated trade envoy.
However, Vanclief said he would not structure the Canadian position after the New Zealand precedent.
“My take was that the New Zealand envoy’s job is to travel the world trying to destroy supply management.”
