Grain producers in the region and across Canada would like to see the federal government ratify the new Canada-United States-Mexico agreement (CUSMA) without delay, says Jeff Nielsen, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) president and Olds-area producer.
Approving the agreement would be beneficial to producers and the overall economy in numerous ways, he said.
“Our farmer members across Canada need certainty to invest and grow,” Nielsen said last week. “This is why government must pass this legislation before summer break to ensure our North American market access is preserved.
“The success of Canadian agriculture is not a partisan issue and we urge all parties to work together to see the legislation through.”
If the bill to ratify CUSMA, called Bill C-100, is passed it will represent a meaningful upgrade to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for Canadian agriculture by keeping trade with the United States and Mexico tariff free, he said.
The agreement would remove legal barriers that prevent grain grown in the U.S. from being treated equally in Canada, a longstanding request from grain farmers on both sides of the border, he said.
“We need tariff-free access for our export commodities as soon as possible,” he said. “Canadian farmers rely on stable markets to succeed and ratifying the CUSMA will allow us to capitalize on further opportunities for growth with our closest trading partners.”
The GGC represents more than 65,000 active and successful grain, oilseed and pulse producers through its 16 provincial, regional and national grower groups.
“The GGC will continue, in conjunction with our partners within the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), to advocate for the passage of Bill C-100,” he said.
The GGC advocates on behalf of its members for governments to support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.
