Opening remarks for Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on C282

September 26, 2024

A fair and open international trade environment for agri-food is in Canada’s economic interest. Agri-food is responsible for 1 in 9 jobs in Canada, and the majority are in export based agri-food. In 2022, Canada exported $92.8 billion in agriculture and food products More than half of our agricultural production is exported or processed to be exported.

​

C-282 is a threat to this economic benefit and Canadian jobs. It is terrible trade policy for a country that depends on exports, it will hurt Canada’s ability to make decisions in the national interest, and it will set a protectionist precedent that undermines Canada’s credibility to exercise leadership and work at international forums like the WTO.

Opening remarks for the Study of the 2026 CUSMA Review

June 6th, 2024

The United States is Canada's largest agricultural trading partner by far, buying 59.2 percent of Canadian exports and supplying 57.0 percent of Canadian imports. Canada is the leading agricultural trade partner of the United States when exports and imports are combined.

Canada ranks among Mexico’s agri-food suppliers, with Mexican agri-food imports from Canada reached $2.9 billion in 2022. Mexico’s large population, growing middle class, geographic proximity and political stability make it an important market for CAFTA exporters.

​

The deep integration between the Canadian and US agricultural sectors is largely a question of proximity, but trade agreements and a deep, positive relationship with our American friends and allies are also vital. The Canada-US Free Trade Agreement of 1989, followed by NAFTA in 1994, then CUSMA in 2020, have dismantled most tariff and quota barriers to Canada-U.S. agricultural trade.

CAFTA Opening remarks for the Study of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy

May 27th, 2024:

CAFTA members have established the following priorities for our work:

1)              To open new markets for Canadian agri-food. This includes prioritizing trade liberalization discussions with growing emerging markets in the Indo-Pacific like Indonesia and ASEAN countries.

2)              To uphold the international rules-based trading system. A delegation of CAFTA members attended the WTO’s recent Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi. We witnessed firsthand the challenges the system is facing, and we support Canada’s efforts through the Ottawa group to advance key priorities at the WTO.

3)              To strengthen trade diplomacy capacity and Industry-Government collaboration. We welcomed the opening of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office in Manilla, and CAFTA is co-chairing the Industry Working Group that is ensuring alignment between government and stakeholders.

CAFTA Opening Remarks for the Study of Canadian Businesses in Supply Chains and Global Markets.

May 2nd, 2024:

The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is a coalition of national organizations advocating for a freer and fairer international trade environment for the agriculture and agri-food sector.

CAFTA's members include farmers, ranchers, processors, producers and exporters from major trade sectors such as beef, pork, grains, oilseeds, sugar, pulses, and soy.

As I said, CAFTA works for a fair and open international trade environment. This is in our country’s economic interest, and in our national security interest of making an important contribution to international peace and stability.

CAFTA Brief for the Study of the Free Trade Negotiations Between Canada and Equador

March 18th, 2024: The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is a coalition of national organizations that support a more open and fair international trading environment for agriculture and agri-food. CAFTA represents the 90% of farmers who depend on trade and ranchers, producers, processors, and agri-food exporters who want to grow the economy through better access to international markets. This includes the beef, pork, meat, grains, cereals, pulses, soybeans, canola as well as the sugar and processed food industries. The sectors CAFTA represents support over a million jobs in urban and rural communities across Canada.