Just back from a trade mission to Japan lead by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, Canola Council of Canada (CCC) President Patti Miller underlined the importance of missions led by the Agriculture Minister in maintaining and building relations in the industry’s major markets.
The mission included high level meetings with key grain industry participants in Japan and Japanese government officials, including the Ministers of Agriculture, Health, Foreign Affairs and Trade. Miller participated in a meeting with the Japanese Oilseed Processors Association.
“We welcome Minister Ritz’s leadership in opening markets and supporting a predictable trade environment in Japan,” says Miller. “Japan is a long-standing, high value market for canola seed, importing two million tonnes annually, and we greatly value our relationship with them.”
Canada and Japan have engaged in bi-lateral free trade discussions. The mission provided an opportunity for Miller to build on the canola sector’s relationship with seed importers, and to discuss new opportunities afforded by bi-lateral, comprehensive economic and trade discussions.
“With 85 percent of everything we produce going to export markets, a healthy global trade environment is critical to our industry,” says Miller.
