By Bruce Cochrane.
Canada's Agriculture Minister says the U.S. decision to repeal Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling for beef and pork removes long standing disputes and will benefit industry on both sides of the Canada U.S. border.
Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food made his first official visit to Washington last week where he met with his counterpart, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack with the goal of strengthening Canada's long-standing, bilateral partnership with the United States, while advancing the interests of Canadian agricultural producers, processors and exporters.
Lawrence MacAulay says discussions revolved around a shared commitment to growing agricultural trade between the two countries.
Secretary Vilsack and I had a very productive relationship so far and I'm looking forward to building on that.
Lawrence MacAulay-Canada Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food:
Canada deeply values agricultural trade relations with the United States.
We are an integrated market which serves both countries well.
In 2014 we shared $50 billion dollars in agricultural food trade.
Canada exports over half of that to the U.S.
That is over $1 million dollars in agriculture and food trade every day.
The
government of Canada is committed to keeping this relationship strong.
The Prime Minister has asked me to work hard to make our relationship with the United States more effective.
Our government is very pleased with the U.S.'s decision to repeal COOL for beef and pork.
The resolution removes significant longstanding disputes between our two countries.
It will allow industry on both sides to reap benefits off our integrated markets.
We can look forward to restoration of our integrated supply chain for beef and pork.
The government of Canada strongly supports free trade as a way to open markets and create good paying jobs for Canadians.
As partners, as good neighbors, Canada and the U.S. must bolster cooperation.
MacAulay says, through our government's renewed focus on this relationship, Canada's farmers and food processors can look forward to the opportunities to come.
Source: Farmscape