The Canada U.S. Trade Council (CUSTC) is a new industry and labour council formed to collaborate on tariff and CUSMA issues, say its organizers. The voluntary initiative, launched January 10th, includes participants from a cross-section of Canadian trade-dependent industries, including steel, aluminum, forest products, oil and gas, agri-food, and dairy as well as broader industry... Read More
Category: Agriculture Policy
Farm groups are voicing frustration and disappointment with outgoing Transport Minister Anita Anand's decision this week to approve the acquisition of Viterra by Bunge. The conditions laid out in the order-in-council are "woefully inadequate," according to Grain Growers of Canada, the umbrella organization for 14 national, provincial, and regional crop producer organizations. In a Jan.... Read More
A pilot program aimed at bringing more competition to Canada's rail system is among the casualties of outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to prorogue Parliament. The federal government announced an 18-month trial for extended interswitching in the 2023 federal budget, and the clock started ticking on the program in September 2023. Interswitching allows a... Read More
Since 2020 trade between the United States and Canada has been on an upward trajectory, for both countries. This can at times take Americans by surprise, as the current narrative by President-elect Donald Trump implies Canada is being "subsidized" by a substantial trade deficit in Canada's favour. With hefty trade tariffs potentially looming on all... Read More
The national umbrella organization representing Canada's grain, oilseed, pulse and special crop industries is welcoming the North American trade dispute panel ruling against Mexico's restrictions on genetically-modified (GM) corn. The dispute revolves around Mexico’s February 2023 presidential corn decree to ban the use of GM corn in dough and tortillas, and to gradually eliminate the... Read More
Across much of Canada, there have traditionally been very few options for landowners to get paid for the overall value created by land conservation. Whether it's grassland, farmland, or a different form of natural habitat, the broader societal benefits of that land often go unrecognized. Instead, land is converted, sold, and developed for uses that... Read More
Later this month, Donald Trump will step back into the role of President of the United States of America. While dairy exports specifically may not be on the top 10 list of things he plans to broach on his first day in office, overall trade with Canada and Mexico is top of mind. The current... Read More
The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) has joined a growing list of national agriculture groups that are cutting ties with the federal government's "Sustainable Agriculture Strategy." The national cattle producer organization sent a letter to Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Thursday, Dec. 19, informing the minister of the association's withdrawal from the government's SAS advisory committee.... Read More
Amidst the chaos of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's shocking resignation and the headlines highlighting the deficit ballooning to nearly $62 billion, there were a few notable measures for the agriculture sector in the Fall Economic Statement tabled by House Leader Karina Gould on Monday afternoon. There's a huge caveat surrounding much of what's in the... Read More
During the 2018 trade negotiation between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico there was significant weight put on the partnership between stakeholders among the three countries. Whether it was beef, pork, biofuels, fertilizer or the like, many stakeholders referenced their "integrated supply chain." It was emphasized as a reason to "do no harm." For 2025, I... Read More