CAFTA ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

Senior trade expert chosen to lead organization.

OTTAWA, (ON) May 28, 2014 – Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) today announced the position of executive director will be filled by Claire Citeau, a seasoned international relations and trade expert, effective June 16, 2014.
“We are delighted to have a leader of this calibre take on the role of executive director,” said CAFTA President Lisa Skierka. “Ms. Citeau has a proven ability to build influencer networks, design and execute trade strategies and advance agriculture and agri-food interests.”
Prior to joining CAFTA, Citeau served as a senior trade official for the Alberta government in the role of Senior Director for Americas and Europe, International Relations and Trade Branch, for the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
“Canada is in the midst of negotiating free tade agreements which makes this an exciting time for me to join CAFTA,” said Citeau. “Trade is a very important part of the agricultural sector as well as Canada’s economy. I look forward to representing CAFTA members and I am eager to contribute to opening borders so market access is enhanced for our exporters to prosper.”
Established in 1997 to strengthen the voice of Canadian agriculture and food exporters in international trade, CAFTA represents 80 per cent of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food exports that directly employ close to 500,000 Canadians.
“We look forward to further promoting key trade files including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union and the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement,” said Skierka. “We are confident Ms. Citeau’s extensive trade experience will result in new and prosperous opportunities.”

Statement by Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance on Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Talks.

Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) President Lisa Skierka today issued the following statement on the status of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks:
“CAFTA calls on negotiators participating in the TPP to re-commit to a comprehensive ambitious agreement that requires all participants—including Canada—to eliminate tariffs on all products.
CAFTA representatives are present at the TPP trade talks in Singapore taking place on May 19 and 20 following their attendance of the TPP meetings in Vietnam last week.
TPP member countries represent 51% of Canada’s agri-food exports. Increased market access to these countries, by virtue of a TPP agreement, could offer enormous opportunities for Canadians, and the agriculture value chain, from farmers and ranchers to processors and exporters.
The TPP’s true potential is its ability to become a full regional agreement that allows for supply chains through the Asia-Pacific region. To achieve this, TPP ministers must ensure that the final TPP agreement provides for the same tariff phase out period and reduction in tariffs for each tariff line. Without this, exporters could actually have their market access reduced relative to competing exporters in key markets.
Despite the challenges that are to be overcome, CAFTA encourages all negotiators to maintain a high level of ambition toward a successful conclusion of a TPP agreement.”

Quick Facts:

• Canada’s agriculture sector exported over $40 billion in 2011. TPP member countries represent 51% of Canada’s agri-food exports.
• TPP offers hope of new export opportunities to TPP member countries if all countries, including Canada, cut tariffs and limit exceptions for sensitive products.
• Increasing export of Canadian agriculture and agri-food products is critical to the prosperity of the close to 500,000 Canadians we directly employ.

The Barley Council of Canada (BCC) develops and implements a common vision that enables long-term profitability and sustainable growth of the Canadian barley industry through value chain collaboration. The BCC takes a national leadership role in coordinating all links in the barley value chain and collaborates with other organizations with a barley mandate. BCC supports barley innovation and variety research, promotes best management practices, supports market development for all barley end-uses, improves international and domestic market access and increases industry understanding.