By Bruce Cochrane. Canada's Agriculture Minister says a free trade agreement between Japan and Canada will help ensure agriculture and food products are available in both countries for the mutual benefit of farmers and consumers. As part of his agricultural trade mission to Japan Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz joined with Prime Minister Stephen Harper for the launch of negotiations aimed at establishing an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan. Speaking yesterday from Seoul, South Korea Ritz told reporters Canada is committed to deepening its economic ties with Japan by ensuring that trade flows freely between the two countries.
Gerry Ritz-Canada Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food: Manitoba: Saskatchewan : Ritz Satement : Reporter's Questions : Canada and Japan share a history that boasts over 83 years of diplomatic ties and this agreement will strengthen our relationship with our valued Japanese customers. As the Prime Minister said, this free trade agreement has the potential to increase our exports to Japan by as much as two thirds. More specifically a free trade agreement with Japan could provide tremendous opportunities for the agriculture industry. Japan is already our agriculture industry's second largest market. Importing most of their food needs, Japan represents a market approaching four billion dollars for our farmers and food processors in Canada. Japan is the most consistently large market for Canadian canola seed, the second largest market for Canadian malt and pork, the third largest market for Canadian wheat and the fourth largest market for Canadian beef. When our government first took office Canada had free trade agreements with just five countries. Since then we've concluded negotiations with nine more and have begun talks with 52 others including the EU and India. While a free trade agreement creates opportunities for Canada there are also great opportunities for Japan. There are many synergys between our two nations so a stronger trade partnership will make sure that consumers in both Japan and Canada have access to a diverse range of safe high quality food. Ritz acknowledges negotiations are in the early stages but the Japanese and Canadian sides are both anxious to move forward as quickly as possible.