Federal agriculture minister to meet with Chinese officials, business leaders

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Published: 3 hours ago

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald speaks at the CAPI conference in Ottawa, Oct. 1 Photo: File

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald is in China this week in hopes of strengthening agricultural ties between the countries.

MacDonald will visit Shanghai, Bejing and Qingdao between October 27 and November 3, a federal news release said. He plans to meet with senior Chinese government officials, local business leaders and other stakeholders.

The trip is the latest diplomatic foray in the midst of trade tensions between the two countries.

Canadian farmers face Chinese tariffs on canola, peas and pork in apparent retaliation for Canada’s 100 per cent tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles.

Earlier this month, China’s ambassador to Canada said it would drop duties on canola if Canada lifted measures against EVs and steel and aluminum. Canada’s federal finance department is reviewing the tariffs, a spokesperson said.

About The Author

Geralyn Wichers

Geralyn Wichers

Digital editor, news and national affairs

Geralyn graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2019 and launched directly into agricultural journalism with the Manitoba Co-operator. Her enterprising, colourful reporting has earned awards such as the Dick Beamish award for current affairs feature writing and a Canadian Online Publishing Award, and in 2023 she represented Canada in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists' Alltech Young Leaders Program. Geralyn is a co-host of the Armchair Anabaptist podcast, cat lover, and thrift store connoisseur.

explore

Stories from our other publications