Minister Bibeau Concludes Successful Outreach to the UK and Germany

In late January, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food concluded a productive week long outreach to the United Kingdom and Germany with the focus to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to deepening and diversifying agriculture trade, promoting Canadian agriculture products and sustainable global food trade and security.

Throughout the outreach, Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food took part in conversations with her international counterparts and stakeholders, where she reinforced Canada’s role as a reliable and indispensable trading partner and discussed opportunities for enhanced cooperation in the agricultural sector.

While in London, Bibeau met with Ralph Goodale, High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom (UK) to discuss Canada-UK agriculture trade. She also provided remarks at the International Grains Council (IGC) Grains Forum, where she reaffirmed Canada’s support for Ukraine’s agricultural sector and the Black Sea Initiative, and called for further stability in the global grains value chain.

Bibeau also joined a stakeholder roundtable with agriculture and food and drink associations in the UK, where she reaffirmed Canada’s role as a key trading partner for the UK and discussed key issues facing the sector.

In Berlin, Bibeau joined a number of her counterparts at the Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference 2023, part of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA). The meeting convened 64 ministers and representatives from around the world to discuss how food systems can best respond to multiple crises. She reiterated Canada’s condemnation of Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine in creating global food security problems. During the meeting, Bibeau also stressed the importance of sustainable agriculture, highlighting recent actions and investments in Canada’s agriculture sector; as well as the importance of open, predictable and transparent agricultural trade. She also reaffirmed that increasing productivity and leveraging innovative ideas to support farmers is essential, and that the contribution of women, youth and Indigenous peoples is vital for agricultural growth.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Bibeau was invited by Germany’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, to join him in the press conference and share her insights given her role as co-chair of the recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting. The Berlin Ministers’ Conference also released a Final Communiqué stressing the need to respond to global crisis in agriculture.

Additionally Bibeau took part in a side event “Pathway towards strengthening and resilience of food systems in Ukraine” hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. The meeting was to discuss strategic visions for facilitating the recovery of Ukraine’s food systems.

Canada is the world’s fifth-largest exporter and sixth-largest importer of agriculture and food products with the European Union ranked as Canada’s 2nd largest trading partner and 4th largest market for Canadian agriculture, agri-food and seafood products. The UK is Canada’s third largest global trading partner for goods and services.

Federal Legislation Could Handcuff Canadian Farmers

Dear Editor:

Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance members, who represent 90 per cent of Canadian farmers, producers, food manufacturers and agri-food businesses, strongly oppose Bill C-282 An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management).

This legislation creates a dangerous precedent and diminishes Canada as a free trade partner. It contradicts established trade rules and severely constrains Canada’s ability to negotiate the best free trade agreements for all sectors of the Canadian economy, agriculture and non-agriculture alike. The end result is a less ambitious free trade agenda and less commercially meaningful outcomes for Canada.

Past agreements show we can defend and protect Canadian interests across the board when negotiating trade agreements. Today, Canada is an international leader in free and fair trade. Bill C-282 puts our record of support for free trade in jeopardy and has the potential to set us back decades.

While Bill C-282 has passed second reading, we strongly encourage Parliamentarians of all stripes to consider the long-term damage that will be caused by this bill becoming law and ensure this is carefully considered before it moves any further through the Parliamentary process.

International trade accounts for nearly two thirds of Canada’s national economy and supports more than 1 out of every 6 jobs. It is also how Canada contributes on the international stage to safeguarding global food security.

Simply put: free and open trade is essential to the economic wellbeing and prosperity of all Canadians.

Dan Darling President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance