Minister Ritz finished trade mission in Asia

Mar 24, 2015

Spent time promoting Canadian beef and wheat

Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz recently returned from Asia where he completed his fifth agricultural trade mission to South Korea and his seventh to Japan.

While there, Minister Ritz focused on promoting Canadian beef and wheat products in an effort to strengthen international trade with South Korea and Japan.

"The Pacific Rim is critically important to our agriculture industry and the Canadian economy,” said Minister Ritz. “This mission gave me the opportunity to reiterate the importance of science based trade and to help connect Canadian industry with future buyers of their top quality products. Increasing our agricultural trade puts more dollars in the pockets of Canadian producers and processors, and grows our overall economy.”

While in Tokyo, Japan, Minister Ritz met Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr. Yoshimasa Hayasahi. Minister Ritz participated in Canada Beef Inc. events to showcase Canadian beef to Japanese importers. He also met with the Japanese Grain Importers and Flour Millers Associations to promote Canadian wheat sales.

Canada exported nearly $4.1 billion worth of agri-food and seafood to Japan in 2014 – up 50.26% since 2006. Japan is also Canada’s third-largest trading partner in agriculture and food, and they remain the second largest market for meat and cereal products.

During his time in Seoul, South Korea he met Korean Agriculture Minister Lee Dong-Phil and urged the country to lift its current temporary ban on Canadian beef. Minister Ritz spoke of the need for science-based approaches to trade and markets now that Canada and South Korea have a free-trade agreement.

Canada’s agri-food and seafood exports to South Korea in 2014 were valued at $622 million, an increase of more than 26% since 2006.

Join the conversation and tell us if now that Minister Ritz has visited with South Korea and Japan, you’ll increase your beef farming.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz

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