Grainswest - Winter 2019

Winter 2019 grainswest.com 37 Photo:Michael Interisano Photo:CourtesyofCanolaCouncilofCanada Overall, the agreement has potential to produce significant growth opportunities for Canadian barley, particularly in Japan, which he called a key market for Canadian barley. Lenz also pointed out that the competition is stiff. “We’re directly competing with Australia for that market,” he said. “In early January 2015, Japan and Australia signed their own economic partnership and that really decreased Canadian exports of barley into Japan. We’re hoping CPTPP will reopen that.” Lenz noted domestic barley prices may rise. “Any type of international interest is going to drive up our own barley prices,” he pointed out. Before barley orders start rolling in, however, the Alberta barley industry will need to rebuild connections lost when Japanese buyers switched from Canadian to Australian suppliers, said Lenz. He added that while the barley industry is prepared to work hard at re-establishing connections, it is expected to turn to the federal government for help in building those bridges with trade missions and the continued hosting of Japanese buyers in Canada to build upon trade connections. “We have to make sure we’re prepared to promote our barley. We know from what our customers are telling us, that Canadian barley is very valued because it is such high quality—it’s some of the best barley in the world.” Brian Innes is president of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, an umbrella trade organization that represents the beef, pork, grains, cereals, pulses, soybeans, canola, malt, sugar and food manufacturing industries. Innes said the elimination of tariffs under the CPTPP is critical to the strengthening of Canada’s agri-food trade. “It’s the first step to eliminating many tariffs that have prevented meaningful market access to key Asian markets,” said Innes, calling the CPTPP a huge opportunity for Canada to expand its export footprint in Asia. “These new opportunities in fast-growing markets will be transformative for the agri-food sector. This will unlock significant benefits for farmers, food manufacturers and exporters in every region of the country,” he said. “Opening up Asian markets will help create jobs and secure billions of dollars in prosperity here at home, ensuring that we are not left behind in a region that is fiercely competitive.” Added to Canada’s other free-trade deals, the federal government has stated CPTPP will give the country international free-trade access beyond that of any other G7 nation. Along with barley and wheat and other agri-foods, the federal government has stated Canada’s fish and seafood, metals, minerals and financial services sectors are also predicted to benefit greatly. The Canadian GDP is expected to increase by $4.2 billion by 2040 under the agreement. Better access to the lucrative Japanese market is within close reach for Alberta wheat and barley farmers. Accessing this big free trade prize is a matter of seizing the opportunity at home and away. The deal may potentially produce significant growth opportunities for Canadian barley, said former Alberta Barley Chair Jason Lenz. Brian Innes, president of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance said CPTPP will transform the agri-food sector.