Ottawa | Reuters — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday for the first time that a deal to renegotiate NAFTA was likely, amid signs negotiators may be closer to settling one of the regional trade pact’s most contentious issues. “We remain very confident that a win-win-win deal is not only possible, but likely,” Trudeau […] Read more

Trudeau optimistic on NAFTA as deal on autos seen possible

Pulse weekly outlook: India not a guaranteed market
CNS Canada — Despite positive developments between Canada and India in regards to pulse crops, the CEO of Pulse Canada is warning producers not to rely on India as market for pulses. “India is not the market that it was eight months ago and it emphasizes the need to find alternate markets,” Gordon Bacon said. […] Read more

Canada sticks to measured tack in U.S. trade row
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada is sticking to its keep-calm strategy as U.S. President Donald Trump ramps up trade war rhetoric, convinced that no move is the best move for the country with the most to lose, but critics say it risks being a soft target if its strategy fails. While the European Union immediately […] Read more

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

Rural Ontario leader appointed to Senate
A leader in Ontario’s agriculture and rural community is one of Canada’s newest senators. Rob Black, executive director of the Rural Ontario Institute and a former president of 4-H Canada, was named Thursday as one of two new senators from Ontario by Governor General Julie Payette. Why is this significant? It has been a long […] Read more

Trudeau under pressure to cork provinces’ wine, oil row
Winnipeg/Ottawa | Reuters — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced pressure on Wednesday from an important political ally and the business community to settle an oil pipeline dispute that has sparked fears of a trade war between two neighbouring provinces. Alberta and British Columbia are scrapping over Kinder Morgan Canada’s planned $7.4 billion Trans Mountain pipeline […] 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

Trudeau talks tough on NAFTA, repeats he could walk away
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 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

Canada unveils ideas to save NAFTA
Montreal | Reuters — Canadian negotiators at the NAFTA talks on Wednesday unveiled ideas to address contentious U.S. demands for revamping the 1994 pact while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged top U.S. executives to back free trade. The sixth and penultimate round of negotiations to update the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) opened in […] Read more