Nanaimo, B.C. | Reuters — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a tough line on NAFTA on Friday, repeating that he could walk away if he was not happy with talks to modernize a pact the U.S. contends needs major changes. “The negotiations are complex and challenging … I’ve said many times, we are not […] Read more
Trudeau talks tough on NAFTA, repeats he could walk away
Moving freight to get more expensive for food companies
Reuters — U.S. food companies called out rising freight costs as a reason for lower profit margins in the holiday quarter, with more pain seen in 2018 as a dearth of drivers and higher diesel prices make it even more expensive to transport products to stores. Hershey, Mondelez International, J.M. Smucker and Campbell Soup said […] Read more
Trudeau says doesn’t think Trump will pull U.S. out of NAFTA
Ottawa | Reuters –– Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday said he did not think U.S. President Donald Trump would pull out of NAFTA, despite slow progress at negotiations to update the US$1.2 trillion trade pact. Trudeau’s comments were among the most positive made by any Canadian official since talks started last year to […] Read more
FCC sees benefits in new Trans-Pacific trade pact
CNS Canada — The future of trade for the Canadian agriculture industry is looking bright from the perspective of Canada’s federal ag lending agency, with progress on the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). According to Farm Credit Canada (FCC), anytime Canada can get less-restricted access to markets it is good for agriculture. “We can […] Read more
U.S. rejects proposals to unblock NAFTA, but will stay in talks
Montreal | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade chief on Monday dismissed Canadian proposals for unblocking NAFTA modernization talks but pledged to stay at the table, easing concerns about a potentially imminent U.S. withdrawal from the trilateral pact. Trump, who described the 1994 pact as a disaster that has drained manufacturing jobs to Mexico, […] Read more
At NAFTA talks, Canada hails jet case as victory for free trade
Montreal | Reuters — Canadian plane maker Bombardier won a major U.S. case on Friday, which government officials said showed the importance of free trade at a time when talks to modernize the NAFTA pact are moving slowly. A U.S. tribunal unexpectedly dismissed a complaint by Boeing against alleged dumping by Bombardier in the case […] Read more
Feds pledge funds for organic standards review
A review and update of Canada’s organic standards for compliance with international norms will get federal funding to make sure it’s complete by its 2020 deadline. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Friday announced the government will foot the “necessary funds” to the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) to cover the cost of the 2020 Canadian […] Read more
U.S. anti-trade agenda could benefit Canadian ag
Winnipeg | CNS Canada — As U.S. President Donald Trump follows his “America first” policy and pulls out of trade deals, it could spell future opportunity for the Canadian agricultural industry, according to Dermot Hayes, a professor with the department of economics at Iowa State University. “In D.C. it’s chaotic. It’s the craziest situation I’ve […] Read more
NAFTA negotiations grind on
Montreal | Reuters — U.S. negotiators are holding firm in their demands for a wide-ranging overhaul of NAFTA, sources close to the talks said on Thursday, raising questions about whether any real movement is happening at the latest round of negotiations on the treaty. Officials from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. are in Montreal for […] Read more
Chicken, dairy farmers rip TPP concessions
Updated, Jan. 25, 2018 — Canada’s supply-managed producer groups warn that the new Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade deal stands to chip away unnecessarily at their markets. Chicken Farmers of Canada on Wednesday said the CPTPP deal, on which Canada pledged Tuesday it will sign in March, still includes concessions on market access […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
