Chamber Urges Action on Trade Support Market Access

Jul 17, 2025
By Jean-Paul McDonald
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Boost Support for Canadian Agri Food Sector

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce recently issued recommendations to the government on how to grow Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-Food sector.

The Chamber highlighted that rising global food demand is a key opportunity for Canada. However, with Canadian farmers facing trade challenges, including U.S. tariffs and heavy Chinese duties on products like canola, pork, and seafood, more must be done to support the sector.

The Chamber suggests providing direct financial aid to affected farmers outside regular support programs. It also calls for removing non-science-based trade barriers and encourages investment in domestic processing and biofuels.

To help farmers reach new markets, the Chamber recommends finalizing free trade agreements with emerging regions, especially the ASEAN nations. It also suggests increasing resources to help farmers navigate new markets and promoting programs like AgriMarketing.

Regulations are another area of concern. The Chamber wants predictable, science-based rules that support innovation without adding unnecessary red tape. They urge regulators to consider food security and ensure agencies like the PMRA and CFIA make decisions based on sound science and timely service.

Transportation is vital for Canada’s landlocked farmers. The Chamber calls for a long-term infrastructure plan that boosts capacity in ports, railways, roads, and terminals.

The Chamber also stresses the need for better technology access. They recommend expanding rural internet, encouraging AI use in farming, and making digital agriculture a national focus with a long-term strategy.

In conclusion, the Chamber emphasizes that a thriving agriculture sector supports Canada’s economy, food security, and trade partnerships. They urge the government to take bold steps to protect and grow this essential industry.

As the Chamber stated, “Helping it grow and thrive is in our economic best interest, in Canadians’ best interest, and in our trade partners’ best interest too.”

Photo Credit: chamber-of-commerce

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.