Released on September 23, 2013
Officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States in Saskatoon to Discuss Agriculture Issues
Today, Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart welcomed agriculture delegates from provincial and state governments from across Canada, Mexico and the United States to Saskatoon for the Tri-National Accord. The Accord will focus on issues that affect the three partner nations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), including agricultural trade, investment and production issues.
“The Tri-National Accord is a long-standing commitment between our partner nations to address agriculture trade and development issues,” Stewart said. “I look forward to the talks that will take place over the next few days, addressing the issues and working toward new co-operation to the benefit of producers, agribusinesses and the agriculture industries of all our countries.”
The Tri-National Agricultural Accord is an annual event where agriculture officials from across North America meet to discuss trade policy, regulatory co-operation and free trade issues. As an economic power, Canada, Mexico and the United States represent $225 billion in agri-food exports in 2012, 30 per cent more than the European Union. The Accord has historically been used to resolve trade issues to make North American producers more competitive in world markets.
Stewart leads the Canadian delegation, while Secretary Chuck Ross leads the American delegation and Secretary Manuel Valdés Rodríguez leads the Mexican delegation. The three groups will meet over the next few days to discuss opportunities and challenges facing agricultural trade across borders. Notably, Saskatchewan will advocate for a speedy resolution to the Country-of-Origin Labelling issue.
Stephen Haterius, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), is head of the association representing the United States delegation at the Accord.
“We have 22 states representing American agriculture at the 22nd meeting of the Tri-National Agricultural Accord,” Haterius said. “This shows the value States place on the Accord and its role in maintaining a close relationship with our trading partners to the north and south.”
“The Mexican delegation has many expectations of this Accord, since Canada and the U.S. account for 80 per cent of Mexico’s agri-food trade,” Rodríguez said. “The three countries are also very actively participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It is very important for the agriculture development secretaries of Mexico to exchange views with trading partners and form strategic and regional partnerships.”
Bilateral and trilateral meetings during the Accord will also discuss issues such as regulatory co-operation, the U.S. Farm Bill, GM-labelling laws and agriculture awareness. The Accord also includes a series of tours to Saskatoon’s many research institutions to raise awareness of the agricultural innovations taking place in Saskatchewan.
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For more information, contact:
Angela Hall
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2359
Email: angela.hall@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-527-0521