Since 2020 trade between the United States and Canada has been on an upward trajectory, for both countries. This can at times take Americans by surprise, as the current narrative by President-elect Donald Trump implies Canada is being “subsidized” by a substantial trade deficit in Canada’s favour.
With hefty trade tariffs potentially looming on all Canadian goods headed into the U.S. — and agriculture being one with highly integrated trade between the two partners — John Barlow, the shadow minister of agriculture and agri-food for the Conservative Party of Canada, attended the State Ag and Rural Leaders Meeting in Iowa last week to reinforce the importance of the agricultural relationship between the two countries.
In this interview with RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney, Barlow emphasizes the importance of conveying that Canada is the top export market for agricultural products for at least half of the U.S. states.
“You need to pinpoint that to each one of these legislators (so) that (they) understand who their number one partner is, and if they put these tariffs on Canadian products, we’re going to have to look for different markets,” Barlow says.
The two also discuss the possibility of Canada becoming the “51st state,” the importance of working together to come up with solutions when it comes to emerging livestock diseases, as well as the current state of Parliament in the midst of a prorogation.
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