Minister Bibeau concludes G20 ministerial meeting and visit to Japan

TOKYO, May 13, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, wrapped up a successful four-day visit to Japan where she represented Canada at the G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting and met with her counterparts to discuss the importance of rules-based trade, market access for Canadian agri-food products and opportunities resulting from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Comprehensive and Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

At the G20 meeting in Niigata, Minister Bibeau discussed Canada's approach to the three core themes of the forum: innovation, value chains and sustainability. The Minister highlighted Canada's world-leading research centres and how collaboration with industry and academia has led to innovative practices and technologies that help farmers prosper and all while reducing their carbon footprint. In addition, she talked about Canada's support for the next generation of farmers, including women, to ensure they are equipped for success.

Agroecosystem Living Labs is an innovative approach to agricultural research aimed at accelerating adoption of new technologies. Canada introduced this concept at last year's G20 meeting and it was endorsed again by Ministers in their declaration. The Living Labs approach was also recognized by G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists as an important mechanism for scaling up climate smart technologies.

While in Niigata, Minister Bibeau held productive meetings with her counterparts from Japan, the United States, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the EU to enhance bilateral trading relationships and discuss priority issues for the Government of Canada. Other topics of discussion included the early success of the CPTPP and CETA, which are already creating good, middle class jobs and providing farmers with new opportunities in key markets, and global cooperation in taking concrete actions to prevent and respond to the threat of African Swine Fever. She had the opportunity to have an introductory conversation on the margins of the G20 with Minister Han, the Agriculture Minister of China where she expressed Canada's deep concern with the suspension of Canadian canola exports to China, and urged that this issue needs to be resolved quickly. She expressed strongly that the Government of Canada stands firmly behind its robust inspection system and good reputation of being a reliable supplier of quality products worldwide. Minister Bibeau took every opportunity to advance Canada's trade diversification strategy as the Government continues to seek out new customers for Canadian agri-food products abroad and help farmers diversify into new markets. 

Minister Bibeau concluded her visit in Tokyo where she was joined by Jim Everson, President of the Canola Council of Canada and Co-Chair of the Government-Industry Canola Working Group for meetings with key industry leaders from Japan's grains, oilseeds and meat sectors to raise the profile of our high-quality Canadian products and foster new business opportunities. Japan continues to be a an important destination for Canadian pork, beef, wheat and canola and the CPTPP has given exporters a competitive advantage as more and more Japanese customers see the value in what Canada has to offer.

Quote

"Our Government sees tremendous value in the G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting and we will continue to collaborate with our international partners to face challenges together and create solutions that will help the industry thrive now and in the future. Canada is well-known for its world-class agri-food products and our hard working farmers can rest assured that we are exploring ways to diversify trade, expand into new markets abroad and increase their farms bottom line."
-        Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Quick facts

• Japan is Canada's third-largest trade partner in agriculture and food.
• In 2018, Canada exported approximately $1.2 billion in pork products and $215 million in beef products to Japan.
• Japan is a stable, consistent and long-term canola seed market for Canada. Canada exported approximately $1.3 billion in canola seed and canola oil to Japan in 2018.
• The CPTPP entered into force for the first six ratified members (Mexico, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada and Australia) on December 30, 2018. The Agreement entered into force for Vietnam on January 14, 2019.

Associated links

• News release – Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau attending G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting in Japan
• G20 Agriculture Ministers' Declaration 2019
• Joint Statement of Western Hemisphere Agriculture Leaders
• News Release on Low-Level Presence (LLP)
• Canada and the G20
• Agriculture and Food Market Intelligence – Asia
• Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
• Diversifying Canada's trade and investment opportunities

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada