Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — Canada must let U.S. processors of cheese, ice cream, yogurt, milk powder and other dairy products have access to its import quotas to resolve a second U.S. dairy trade challenge, Washington’s new agricultural trade boss told Reuters. Doug McKalip, chief agricultural trade negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, told Reuters […] Read more
New U.S. ag trade chief demands Canada broaden dairy quota access
USTR's new ag rep's eyes also on Mexico GM corn ban
U.S. wants WTO dispute system fixed by 2024
Appeals body frozen since Trump era; Washington 'very committed' to reform
Reading Time: 2 minutes Geneva | Reuters — The United States is entering a third phase of talks with countries to reform the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) hobbled trade dispute arbitration system and aims for it to be “fully functioning” by the end of 2024, the U.S. ambassador to the WTO told Reuters on Thursday. The WTO’s appeals bench, […] Read more
Canada to boost defence, cyber security in Indo-Pacific policy
New policy document puts focus on 'disruptive' China
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — Canada launched its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy on Sunday, outlining $2.3 billion in spending to boost military and cyber security in the region and vowed to deal with a “disruptive” China while working with it on climate change and trade issues. The plan detailed in a 26-page document said Canada will tighten […] Read more
Feds pledge agriculture office for Indo-Pacific export support
Ottawa aims to tighten ties with region
Reading Time: 2 minutes Updated Nov. 23 — Canada’s latest round of federal efforts to boost economic ties with the Indo-Pacific region will include its first dedicated agriculture and agri-food office in the region. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tour through the region last week included a pledge of $31.8 million over five years for a regional agriculture office, to […] Read more
Canada, China agree to suspend WTO canola dispute
Lifting of canola ban renders case moot
Reading Time: < 1 minute Berlin | Reuters — Canada and China have agreed to suspend proceedings against Chinese measures affecting the importation of Canadian canola seed, according to a World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint on Thursday. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) panel suspended its work as of Tuesday, the complaint said. Work can be suspended at any time […] Read more
Canadian lawmakers plan Taiwan trip amid rising China tensions
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — A delegation of Canadian lawmakers plans to visit Taiwan in October to seek economic opportunities in the Asia Pacific region, Liberal MP Judy Sgro said Wednesday, a move that could further stoke tensions between China and the West. The relationship between China and the West has worsened since U.S. House of […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: India extends lentil tariff suspension
Canada's 2022 crop looks nearer to normal
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — The decision by India’s government to continue with a suspension of import tariffs on lentils has been met with a sigh of relief from Pulse Canada. On Feb. 12, India removed an 11 per cent tariff on Canadian lentils, just seven months after reducing the same tariff from 33 per cent. On July […] Read more
Food crisis fuels fears of protectionism compounding shortages
Reading Time: 3 minutes Davos | Reuters — A growing world food crisis is precipitating protectionist moves by countries which are likely to compound the problem and could lead to a wider trade war, business leaders and policymakers at the World Economic Forum said. In a sign of the escalating squeeze on food supplies and rising prices, a government […] Read more
China lifts block on Canadian grain firms’ canola exports
Canola from Richardson, Viterra again allowed, officials report
Reading Time: 2 minutes Officials say China has reinstated market access for two major grain firms whose exports of Canadian canola have been blocked from Chinese ports since 2019. Canada’s Trade Minister Mary Ng and Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, in a joint statement Wednesday, confirmed the decision by Chinese customs officials allowing Richardson International and Viterra to resume canola […] Read more
Pulse sector hails renewed trade talks with India
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Canada and India have formerly relaunched trade negotiations that could lead to increased Canadian pulse exports to the country. Canada’s Trade Minister Mary Ng met with her Indian counterpart Shri Piyush Goyal in New Delhi on Friday to discuss economic relationships between the two countries. While highlighting existing trade relationships, the ministers also […] Read more