Bibeau travels to Japan for G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting

Agriculture ministers from the countries who make up the G20 traveled to Niigata, Japan, this week, including Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau

The purpose of the meeting for Canada’s ag minister is to build stronger relationships with trading partners, to help grow the nation’s economy, and to create good, well-paying jobs for Canadian farm families, the department says.

This year’s summit is focussed on three themes: innovation, value chains, and the sustainability of the sector. Ministers will be tasked with finding new ways to “foster innovative technologies and practices that will help farmers prosper, reduce food waste, and mitigate the impact on climate change.”

“The G20 provides an excellent forum for discussing emerging issues affecting the agriculture and agri-food sector”

 

“The G20 provides an excellent forum for discussing emerging issues affecting the agriculture and agri-food sector. With my counterparts from the world’s major economies, we will discuss the importance of a reliable and science-based international trading system, global animal health issues, and innovation,” Bibeau says. “I will promote our high-quality Canadian products and the commitment of our producers to maintain our competitiveness in global markets.”

While in Japan, Bibeau will also take the time to meet with key Japanese industry organizations from the grains, oilseed and meat sectors. It is her goal to emphasize the mutual importance of rules-based trade and the countries’ long-standing partnership.

According to a news release, with the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) now in force — Canada is the only G7 nation that has free trade agreements with all other members across the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

Source: Real Agriculture