Canada’s relationship with China is complicated — it involves extradition, unlawful retribution arrests, non-tariff barriers, fake CFIA documents, and a spying telecom company. In the months since the recall of former Canadian ambassador to China John McCallum, the agriculture industry has been waiting very impatiently for a new ambassador. Agriculture’s hope has been that a… Read More
What do Chinese government leaders think of Canada? Can our government correct a policy course that has put Canadian agricultural exports on the ropes and knocked canola and meat out of the globe’s most lucrative economy? Earlier this week, RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney put these questions to Charles Burton, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier… Read More
Ontario’s minister of agriculture is asking — again — that the federal government move on with resolving large-scale trade issues with China, and that the feds provide compensation for the meat sector in the meantime. Following up on a request made in early July and post-federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) meeting of agriculture ministers at Quebec City, Minister… Read More
The trade battle between the U.S. and China has taken a turn for the worse for farmers and ranchers in the U.S. in the past four days. On the heels of President Donald Trump announcing the U.S. would impose a 10 per cent tariff on the final US$300 billion of untouched imports from China on… Read More
U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to increase pressure on China, just as the U.S. trade teams return to home soil this week. The president has announced a 10 per cent tariff on US$300 billion in imports from China effective September 1, a move that will result in essentially all Chinese products — including cell… Read More
The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food along with the Minister of International Trade Diversification met with leaders of various Canadian pork and meat organizations earlier this week to discuss the latest in trade woes with China. “We are working closely with farmers, industry, provinces and exporters to restore market access to China as quickly as… Read More
When a shipment of pork arrived in China testing positive for the feed additive ractopamine, the Canadian Pork Council saw it as a red flag. “We have a ractopamine-free certification program that involves basically the producer’s decision not to use it, and then a whole process to ensure that the animals do not come in… Read More
With no ambassador on the ground in China, and no face-to-face meeting scheduled between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel of the latest round of trade suspensions. “Wringing hands and begging Trump to intervene are not a good Plan… Read More
As tensions remain high between China and North American countries, it appears as though China will be taking another step to strengthen inspections of imported meat from Canada. The news broke Tuesday afternoon from RealAg Radio regular, Kelsey Johnson of Reuters. In her article, she points out: A Canadian agriculture ministry notice seen by Reuters… Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) has requested financial support for its members from the government due to trade disruption between North America and China. The U.S. trade battle with China has created a concerning scenario for Canadian prices and market access. Last week, the United States unveiled plans to provide U.S. growers with financial support… Read More
The trade war between the U.S. and China has been a stress point for many people in agriculture. Soybeans are continually the focus of any discussion involving agriculture and China because of the appetite that the Chinese have had for the protein source. It is difficult to determine how much of the price fluctuation in… Read More
The White House announced a second direct payment program this week for American farmers that have suffered loss of market access due to the U.S.’s trade war with China. The program totals US$16 billion and covers a majority of crops and livestock produced in the U.S. At the same time, Canadian producers are just as… Read More
By Cam Dahl, president of Cereals Canada The world has become protectionist. There is, justifiably, much focus on issues with China. But it is not just China. Canadian agriculture commodities are blocked in India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam and face issues in key markets such as Peru. Countries are turning inward, finding new ways… Read More
Many times, a face-to-face meeting is the best way to solve a problem. It minimizes keyboard bravery and conference-call bluffing, but in the case of high stakes international diplomacy things are different. There is a process to follow which can be difficult to recognize when people want a solution fast. Farmers are frustrated with the… Read More