Ottawa targets trade issues

The federal government is seeking to reassure producers it’s supporting them in the midst of trade troubles.

On July 25, federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced up to $6 million for Canada Pork International under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriMarketing Program “to strengthen, diversify and grow Canada’s pork exports in priority markets around the world.”

Two weeks earlier, on July 11, she announced more than $13 million for a variety of projects “to strengthen, diversify and grow Canada’s grains and oilseeds exports.” The funding was designed to help producers take advantage of opportunities under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

However, both announcements also came in the midst of an ongoing trade dispute that saw China close its doors to canola, pork and beef from Canada.

Bibeau told Country Life in BC prior to the announcements that while her staff continue to discuss the issues with Chinese officials, Canada will support producers in their efforts to find alternative markets.

“When things like that happen, it’s up to the whole value-chain in the industry to redirect their products,” she said. “This is why we are working with them to find new opportunities in different countries.”