POINTE-AU-PIC, Que. – Agriculture Canada trade specialist Mike Gifford last week brought three pieces of good news for exporters with him when he appeared before Canadian farm leaders.
In 1996, Canada is likely to come within a hair of meeting its end-of-the-decade goal of exporting $20 billion worth of goods, he said.
That would put Canada’s food export goal, which was set three years ago, four years ahead of schedule.
Gifford also told the Canadian Federation of Agriculture summer meeting that after years of damaging trade wars and volatility in international markets, the sector can look forward to years of stability.
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More liberalized trade coming
Rules created in recent regional and world trade agreements will not be reversed and the next round of world talks to begin in 1999 will set new, more liberalized rules, he predicted.
And as early as Jan. 1, 1997, free trade deals between Canada and two new countries – Israel and Chile – are likely to take effect.
“Producers and processors should assume that for their long-term planning in the next decade, they will be operating in a freer trade environment,” said Gifford.
His third piece of news was actually old news to many in the room – a strong hint media reports are correct that Canada is poised to win a major and clean victory over the U.S. in their challenge to Canadian border tariffs used to protect supply management industries.
Although the final report is not due out until mid-August, an interim July 15 report was leaked by Washington trade sources.
They said the panel established under the North American Free Trade Agreement has ruled unanimously in Canada’s favor.
Canadian government officials and farm leaders – many of them at the CFA meeting – have been briefed on the ruling but refuse to speak about it because it is supposed to be confidential.
Last week, Gifford told CFA members he and other departmental officials remain under that constraint. Then, with a smile, he dropped his hint.
“Frank Claydon (deputy agriculture minister) asked ‘Can’t we even smile?’ ” said Gifford.
Don’t smile for the press
“My answer was ‘not if there are media in the room.’ “
He said dairy, poultry and egg sector leaders have recognized that if Canada wins, it will not end the pressure on supply management. The system will evolve to react to international competition.
“That is industry leaders saying that and not some bureaucrat,” said Gifford.
