The long, drawn out NAFTA negotiations really weighed heavily on the nerves of agricultural exporters. The fear of losing the U.S. market or the real threat of the border possibly becoming thicker was a huge stress for beef, pork, oilseed, and cereal producers. The news, then, that there is a trilateral deal to be ratified… Read more »
Tag: Brian Innes
Canada, U.S. to resume trade talks next week, as Trump notifies Congress on new agreement
An intense round of talks between Canada and the U.S. to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came to an end Friday afternoon without an agreement, but with both sides reporting progress and planning to resume negotiations on Wednesday. “We are continuing to work hard, and we are making progress. We’re not there… Read more »
Farm groups call proposed neonic ban “very concerning” and “disappointing”
Agriculture industry and farm groups are voicing strong concerns about Health Canada’s proposed ban of two neonicotinoid (neonic) crop protection products announced on Wednesday. Citing risk to aquatic insects, such as mayflies and midges, not bees, the federal health department’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is looking to phase out all agricultural uses of thiamethoxam… Read more »
With Trump making overtures to the EU, is Canada being left behind?
Although the European Union is currently experiencing significant political shifts within its body of countries, it is still one of the world’s leading economic blocks and is very attractive to exporters from around the world. Its history of protectionism, with tariffs and import quotas on agricultural products, is well documented. This makes trade with the… Read more »
“It’s astronomically impossible to expect zero ag subsidies in the EU”
The European Union looking to mend fences with the Trump administration could have a major impact on agriculture, as the U.S. looks for a win with one of its trading partners. The EU/U.S. trade front is one that Canadians should pay particularly close attention to as we already have preferential market access over the U.S…. Read more »
RealAg Radio, July 27: A surprising top export, the importance of CETA, & a beef market update
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney starts the show on a high note by reading a pretty impactful tweet from John Kowalchuk about hardworking farmers. From there, we head into the news, where you’ll hear about: How the feds registered a surplus of $3.2 billion The U.S. released its GDP figures, and they’re up 2.2 per… Read more »
Concerns ripple across North American agriculture as tariff battle begins
The Canadian government was quick to announce $16.6 billion in retaliatory tariffs after U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross confirmed that Canada, Mexico, and the EU will lose their exemptions to 25 percent and 10 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum, as of June 1. The escalation comes as NAFTA negotiations appear to have stalled. Prime… Read more »
Ag groups warn Ottawa to leave TPP text alone
Just leave it alone. Don’t ask for too much and jeopardize a deal that could potentially be finalized this weekend. That’s what Canadian agriculture groups representing farmers who depend on trade are telling the Ottawa as leaders from the remaining 11 Trans-Pacific Partnership countries head to Vietnam. The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance sent a strongly-worded… Read more »
Progress made on agriculture text in 3rd round of NAFTA talks
Negotiators have made some progress on agriculture-related topics during the third round of NAFTA negotiations in Ottawa this week. A full day of discussions on agriculture took place on Tuesday, with more planned for Wednesday. The U.S. introduced a “consolidated text” for agriculture, compiled from the three countries’ individual submissions, according to a source who… Read more »
Celebrating CETA while obstacles remain
The provisional application of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union (EU) officially started this week, which had the Canadian trade team in Brussels actually jumping for joy. But the work is far from over, as technical barriers are holding the agriculture and agri-food industry back from reaching their full… Read more »
Canola School: Trade Deal with China Holds Huge Potential for Canola
As the Canadian government contemplates moving forward on a free trade agreement with China, the canola industry sees tremendous potential to increase exports to the country that already imports more canola seed than any other. That’s because Canadian canola seed headed to China currently faces a nine percent tariff, whereas the tariff on soybeans is… Read more »
Ottawa Launches Consultations on Trade Deal With China
After launching exploratory discussions with China last fall, the Canadian government is taking another step toward negotiating a trade deal Canada’s second-largest trading partner. As part of the March 4th issue of the Canada Gazette, Global Affairs Canada announced it’s asking for feedback on how to proceed with a possible free trade agreement with China. “With… Read more »
Harvesting Prosperity From Seven Years of Negotiation
This is an editorial column written by Brian Innes, president of CAFTA (Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance): Threats to rip up NAFTA and trash the TPP send a chill down the spines of Canadians whose livelihoods depend on trade. And while the Trump administration’s action plan is not yet clear, it is crystal clear that Canada’s… Read more »
Ritz “Baffled” By Quinclorac Policy; Canola Council Responds
Former agriculture minister Gerry Ritz is taking issue with the Canola Council of Canada’s recommendation that growers don’t use quinclorac herbicide on canola in 2016. “I’m baffled by this non-science-based targeting of this product,” he says in the interview below, responding to this Canola School episode published earlier this week. Citing concerns about quinclorac residues showing up… Read more »
Canola School: Keeping the Chinese Market Open — The Canola Council’s Position on Quinclorac Herbicide
China imports about one-third of the canola grown in Canada. It’s critical Canadian canola meet the requirements for selling into the Chinese market. That’s why the Canola Council of Canada is advising against the use of quinclorac herbicide on canola in 2016, explains Brian Innes, vice president of government relations for the CCC, in this Canola School… Read more »