Top Crop Manager

News World Outlook Imports/Exports
Manitoba hosted 2019 tri-national agricultural accord with U.S., Mexico

November 18, 2019  By Top Crop Manager


The province of Manitoba was host to the 2019 Tri-National Agricultural Accord annual meeting from November 12 to 14 in Winnipeg.

“From the earliest days of settlement, agriculture was and continues to be one of Manitoba’s most important and diversified industries, an essential part of our thriving province,” said Blaine Pedersen, agriculture and resource development minister. “Hosting the 2019 Tri-National Agricultural Accord provides Manitoba with a platform to advocate for, and demonstrate leadership on market access and trade, regulatory co-operation, and other important areas to our industry.”

The Tri-National Agricultural Accord is a long-standing commitment among the three countries – Canada, the United States and Mexico – that allows state and provincial agricultural and rural officials from the three countries to network, contribute to important and meaningful discussions on agricultural development issues and trade opportunities, as well as establish and strengthen business and trade relationships.

Advertisement

Attendance at the meeting provided the province an opportunity to display its agri-food sector and highlight the province’s priority on protein production and processing, and to make agri-food businesses more competitive across borders.

As Manitoba moves toward celebrations for the province’s 150th birthday, the 2019 Tri-National Agricultural Accord also provided Manitoba the opportunity to showcase its capital city and the province’s vibrant agriculture, agri-product and food manufacturing sectors. The Tri-National Agricultural Accord also allowed senior officials from all three countries to have discussions on important, current topics in agriculture such as African swine fever and innovation in agricultural practices, said the minister.

“The United States and Mexico are top markets for Canadian canola,” says Rick White, chief executive officer at Canadian Canola Growers Association. “Past accords have addressed issues important to canola farmers including regulatory co-operation, agricultural policy and trade. We see the accord as an important event for enhancing the relationship between our three countries and continuing a strategic dialogue on trade-related issues.”

The United States and Canada enjoy the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world. The United States is Manitoba’s number one trading partner, accounting for agri-food exports worth $2.7 billion in 2018. Manitoba’s top exports to the United States are canola oil, processed potatoes, live swine and live cattle. Mexico is Manitoba’s fourth-largest agri-food trading partner with $362 million in agri-food exports for 2018. Manitoba’s top exports to Mexico are canola seeds and oil, pork, wheat and processed potatoes.

The accord annual meeting is held every year and rotates annually from country to country. In 2018, officials met in Monterrey, Mexico, and this year in Winnipeg. In 2020, the accord will be held in Arlington, Virginia.

Advertisement

Stories continue below