Canada’s agriculture minister is emphasizing the importance of growing trade with South American countries following a recent tour.
Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay concluded his agricultural outreach mission to Argentina and Chile late last week.
MacAulay said Canada already has a strong trade relationship with the two countries, which are both growing markets globally.
“This mission was a great opportunity to showcase Canada's high-quality and safe food and to strengthen our trade ties in South America – actions that will grow our economy and put more money in the pockets of our farmers,” said MacAulay.
He noted Argentina recently eased import conditions for Canadian pork, which will provide access for Canadian breeding swine as well as other exports.
MacAulay also participated in roundtable sessions with agricultural associations and experts, as well as with Canadian companies active in Argentina, to discuss ways in which agricultural trade could be enhanced.
While in Chile, the minister met with executives from the Chilean multi-format retailer Cencosud, which owns Jumbo supermarkets. The trip ended after a beef and pork promotional event in Santiago.
Trading partners
The South American trade bloc of Mercosur is a customs union established by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. In 2017, Canada and Mercosur exchanged $8.9 billion in trade.
