CNS Canada — As the western Canadian pulse crop industry awaits news from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to India, two traders aren’t holding their breath. “I’m not expecting any big announcements or any big headway other than wording like ‘working towards understandings’ and things like that,” said Adam Krieser of Canpulse Foods in Saskatoon. […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Prairie market ‘nonexistent’ due to trade dispute

Pulse weekly outlook: Industry adapting to new market reality
CNS Canada — Pulse growers are facing new questions on the Prairies these days as a trade impasse with India forces many farmers to prepare for new market realities. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau next week will visit India, where the thorny subject of its levies on Canadian pulse exports will be raised. India imposed the […] Read more

India raises chickpea import duty to 40 per cent
The Indian government has raised its import tariff for chickpeas from 30 per cent to 40 per cent. The government said Tuesday in the Gazette of India the increased tariff is to be imposed immediately, with existing circumstances making it necessary. Chickpea prices have continued to fall over the last six months, according to reports […] 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

Pulse weekly outlook: Australia makes progress with India, Canada waits
CNS Canada –– Pulse crop prices in Western Canada are holding steady while questions remain about the future of trade with India. India in November imposed a 50 per cent import tariff on peas and in December a 30 per cent tariff was placed on chickpeas and lentils. The tariffs were imposed overnight and left […] Read more

India will continue to import Canadian pulses, AGT says
CNS Canada — Pulse crop trade with India hasn’t been rosy lately but the head of a Canadian pulse shipping and processing company believes the tides will soon change. “India’s going to buy again this year. We’ll have to see what level but we think the recoveries are going to start slowly,” said Murad Al-Katib, […] Read more

Canadian companies struggle to plan for post-NAFTA world
Toronto | Reuters — Canadian industries that would be most acutely impacted by the death of the North American Free Trade Agreement are unable to meaningfully plan for a possible post-NAFTA world given the uncertainty of what could replace it, analysts and executives said. With three quarters of Canadian exports landing in the U.S., the […] Read more

India imposes duties on chickpeas, lentils
CNS Canada — India is introducing immediate 30 per cent tariffs on imports of chickpeas and lentils, the country’s government announced Thursday. The import duties follow the 50 per cent tariff on yellow peas India introduced in November, and come as part of ongoing efforts by India to support farmers. “Production of chana (chickpeas) and […] Read more

Give peas a chance — the future looks bright
Acreage may plummet in the coming year, but the new processing plants are laying the foundation for a surge in production
Reading Time: 5 minutes Here’s some counterintuitive advice: Think about growing peas in 2018. That’s a suggestion from Alan Hall, who has kept a close watch on the pulse sector in his role as ‘new initiatives and project hunter’ with the Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund. As such, Hall is well aware of the recent plunge in pea prices, […] Read more

It’s not pretty but it’s not a disaster yet, says top pulse official
India’s pea tariff has roiled markets, but Gordon Bacon urges farmers to wait and see how things play out
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s top pulse official says predictions that India’s bolt-out-of-the-blue tariff could slash Prairie pea acreage by a third are premature. “Things are changing very rapidly right now,” said Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada. “India is under a lot of pressure to do something that both provides some price support to their farmers — but acknowledges […] Read more