Southeast Asia is an important growth market and could become a processing hub for Canadian food ingredients
WINNIPEG — Canada may need a partner in southeast Asia to tap into booming demand for food, ingredients and protein in that region. Singapore is one option, says the head of Protein Industries Canada. A delegation from Singapore visited Canada this summer and met with Protein Industries Canada, a group trying to make this country […] Read moreTag Archives CPTPP
New Zealand escalates dairy dispute
WELLINGTON, N.Z. (Reuters) — The New Zealand government said Oct. 18 it has escalated its long-running trade dispute with Canada over access for its dairy products. New Zealand trade minister Todd McClay said his government has notified the Canadian government and other members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) that it […] Read more
Supply management bill moves slowly through Senate
A private member’s bill that wants to take supply management off the trade table is at the centre of attention in Ottawa
REGINA — Clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-282 in the Senate is not expected until November, after the Bloc Quebecois deadline for triggering a federal election. Passing the private member’s bill to protect supply management in future trade agreements by Oct. 29 was one of BQ leader Yves-Francois Blanchet’s demands when he voted against recent Conservative […] Read more
Competition grows tougher for pulse exporters
International buyers turned to new suppliers during recent drought years, and it will be difficult to get the business back
Buyers from around the world were in Winnipeg last week for the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Convention. However, the sobering news for Canadian farmers, marketers and processors was that those buyers don’t always have to rely on Canada these days. “For a number of crops, like durum, like flax, Canadian isn’t the … […] Read more
Canada-U.K. free trade talks remain comatose
Upcoming election in the United Kingdom may explain why little short-term hope remains on the trade agreement front
WINNIPEG — One year ago, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak published an open letter to farmers in his country. The letter, released May 16, 2023, focused on agricultural trade and British government priorities for future free trade deals. Sunak listed six principles, which he says will protect and assist British farmers. Principle No. 4 was […] Read more
U.S. official defends free trade agreement stance
Senators rake the U.S. Trade Representative over the coals for the Biden administration’s trade policy agenda
SASKATOON — U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai was taken to task in her recent appearance before the U.S. Senate’s finance committee to discuss the president’s 2024 trade policy agenda. Tai was grilled about why president Joe Biden’s administration has abandoned the free trade agreements that farmers love. Related stories: “You say we’ve got a different […] Read more
Beef imports from Europe and U.K. on the decline
Canada still has a trade deficit in beef with Europe, but it is getting smaller. Trade data from Statistics Canada for the first seven months of 2023 shows that Canada exported $16.3 million worth of beef to the EU. That’s up from $12.2 million in the same period in 2022. Meanwhile, the EU exported $44 […] Read more
Non-tariff trade barriers should keep Britain out of CPTPP
Some things you let slide. And some things you just can’t let slip by. When it comes to the safety and quality of Canada’s food products and system, there is no way Canada should allow the United Kingdom to play sleazy games with access to the British market if it wants to join the Comprehensive […] Read more
Feds say U.K. market access work continues
The federal government said it continues to work on technical issues that keep Canadian beef and pork out of the United Kingdom. In an emailed statement, Agriculture Canada said bilateral discussions are taking place even as members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership welcome the U.K. as the 12th member. Earlier this […] Read more
Delay U.K. entry to trade deal, say meat producers
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Canadian beef producers want the country’s food safety systems recognized in the United Kingdom before Britain is formally allowed to join the trans-Pacific trade deal known as CPTPP. Canadian Cattle Association president Nathan Phinney delivered that message to the North American, European Union Agricultural Conference in Charlottetown last week. He observed that […] Read more
