A trade mission is scheduled for December while the federal ag minister recently returned from China
The Canadian government is busy promoting agriculture and shoring up trade agreements in parts of Asia.
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, for example, recently returned from a trip to China, his department said in a Nov. 19 release.
This is his sixth visit to China in his two terms as minister.
This trip was unpublicized.
While there, the minister discussed opportunities and challenges for multiple Canadian farm and food products, while also expressing concern for China’s anti-dumping investigation into canola and calling for full market restoration of beef and dry pet food containing poultry ingredients.
In addition, the minister supported the announcement of the Canadian Meat Advocacy Office.
The office, which will be located in Beijing, is a collaboration between the Canadian Meat Council, Canadian Pork Council and Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
The office’s goal is to increase the presence of Canadian beef and pork in the Chinese market.
In December, a Team Canada trade mission to Indonesia and Philippines will include ag.
In 2023, those markets imported about $2 billion of Canadian ag and food products.
An information sheet about the trade mission identifies agriculture and processed foods as a priority sector.
In Indonesia, opportunities exist for halal products, beef and pork, cereals, oilseeds, and fish and seafood.
While in Philippines, animal feeds, plant and animal genetics, grains, pulses and meats may be able to make inroads.
At least 300 delegates are scheduled to attend the trade mission.
“This is the biggest Team Canada Trade Mission that we have done. It's bigger than Japan, it’s bigger than Korea. It speaks to the interests of Canadians and Canada at large to engage with the Philippines,” Guy Boileau, the senior trade commissioner at the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines, told local media.
And in 2025, a trade agreement with Indonesia could come into force.
On Nov. 16, Prime Minister Trudeau’s office announced the completion of negotiations in the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
This agreement includes removing or reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade.
Currently, Indonesia can apply a 27 per cent tariff on Canadian soybeans.
“We’ve been sharing with Canadian negotiators for several months how an agreement could help to eliminate tariffs and address non-tariff barriers our sector faces when exporting to Indonesia,” Brian Innes, executive director of Soy Canada, said in a statement. We hope our advice will be reflected in the agreement and we look forward to seeing it soon.”