(CBSA-asfc.gc.ca)

Trump administration triggers launch of NAFTA renegotiations

Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — The Trump administration on Thursday formally launched its effort to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico to try to win better terms for U.S. workers and manufacturers. With a letter to U.S. lawmakers, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he triggered a 90-day consultation period with […] Read more

U.S. President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue participate in a farmers’ roundtable event April 25 at the White House. (Video screengrab from WhiteHouse.gov)

Trump reassures farmers immigration crackdown not aimed at their workers

Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington/San Francisco | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump said he would seek to keep his tough immigration enforcement policies from harming the U.S. farm industry and its largely immigrant workforce, according to farmers and officials who met with him. At a roundtable on farm labour at the White House last month, Trump said he […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill expects grain glut to last long time

Reading Time: 2 minutes Seoul | Reuters –– Commodity firm Cargill expects international grain markets to remain oversupplied for a long time due to bountiful harvests and a rise in storage, the head of the global commodity trader said on Friday. Bumper crops have flooded many markets, dragging on prices for grains and hitting profits at agribusiness giants including […] Read more

U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order April 29 in Pennsylvania on the establishment of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy. (Screengrab from video at Whitehouse.gov)

U.S. farm groups pile on Canada as Trump eyes trade fairness

Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of the protected Canadian dairy system has emboldened U.S. farm groups to tackle other longstanding agriculture irritants, as the countries move toward rewriting trade rules. U.S. poultry exporters, who include Tyson Foods and Pilgrims Pride Corp., as well as egg sellers, are expected to seek greater […] Read more


(PortMetroVancouver.com)

Pacific trade pact nations meet to discuss future without U.S.

Reading Time: < 1 minute Ottawa | Reuters — Negotiators from the remaining members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) gathered in Canada on Tuesday seeking ways to boost free trade in the region after the U.S. pulled out of the 12-nation pact. The withdrawal killed off years of negotiations and left the region looking for ways to deepen economic ties […] Read more



U.S. President Donald Trump speaks April 18 at Snap-on Tools’ headquarters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Video screengrab from Whitehouse.gov)

White House readies order to quit NAFTA

Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — The White House is considering a draft executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the North American Free Trade Agreement, a senior Trump administration official said on Wednesday. It was unclear whether the order would be enacted by President Donald Trump, who has vowed to pull out from the U.S./Mexico/Canada trade […] Read more

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks March 30 at a Ford plant in Windsor, Ont. (PMO photo by Adam Scotti)

Trudeau defends dairy system against Trump protectionist charge

Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday brushed off an attack by U.S. President Donald Trump on Canada’s system of dairy protections, saying every nation defended its agricultural industries. Trudeau told Bloomberg Television that the U.S. in fact ran a dairy surplus with Canada. Trump took aim at Canada’s dairy industry […] Read more


U.S. President Donald Trump speaks April 18 at Snap-on Tools’ headquarters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Video screengrab from Whitehouse.gov)

Trump vows to back U.S. dairy farmers in Canada trade spat

Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to defend U.S. dairy farmers who have been hurt by Canada’s protectionist trade practices, during a visit to the cheese-making state of Wisconsin. Canada’s dairy sector is protected by high tariffs on imported products and controls on domestic production as a means of supporting prices that […] Read more

U.N. picks former U.S. governor to run World Food Programme

Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has appointed former South Carolina Governor David Beasley to run the Rome-based World Food Programme (WFP), at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed slashing funding for the world body and its agencies. Beasley will replace another American, Etharin Cousin, who has been the WFP executive […] Read more