Canada takes COOL to WTO

“… a needless and expensive thickening of the border.” – Gerry Ritz Canada has launched a WTO trade action against the U. S. mandatory country-of-origin meat labelling rule. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Stockwell Day made the announcement at a news conference in Ottawa Monday. The Canadian government has initiated formal

Colombia FTA seen securing crop markets

Prairie grain and pulse crop producers expect to gain from Canada’s signature Nov. 21 on a free trade agreement (FTA) with Colombia. The Canadian Wheat Board is now urging Parliament to ratify the deal and secure Canada’s $100 million wheat market worth of wheat and $23 million of malting barley to Colombia each year. According


Federal action urged to reopen beef markets

Canada’s livestock producers, fed up with international trade barriers, want the federal government to do much more to open up foreign markets for their products. A new industry report recommends 25 steps for Ottawa to take in gaining greater access for Canada’s agricultural exports, especially beef. That includes creating a separate bureaucracy for negotiating international