Erik Schwindt and Doug Ahrens of Ontario are joining 12 hog producers from other parts of Canada on a trade mission to try to sell more pork to Japan.

The aim is to take full advantage of greater market access included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal due to be signed in Chile on March 8.

“During this trade advocacy mission, delegates will be able to understand the new opportunities being created by the signature of the CPTPP and how to further develop the market,” said Rick Bergmann, chairman of the Canadian Pork Council.

”Pork producers will also witness the importance of onfarm programs for interna-buyers in Japan,” he said.

On Monday, March 5th, during the first day of the mission, delegates will meet with Canadian Agriculture Minister Lawrence and will visit a retail store to see how Canadian pork is marketed.

Delegates will visit several retailers and witness in-store demonstrations on Tuesday, and take part in the food expo Foodex on Wednesday where a Canada Pork International representative will be marketing Canadian pork to Japanese buyers. Meetings with government officials are also planned.

Japan is the second-biggest market for Canadian pork, last Canada exports 70 per cent of the pork it produces to more than 100 countries.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal opens other lucrative Asian markets, such as Viet Nam, Malaysia and Singapore.

Other partners in the TPP are Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Chile and Peru.

There are hints now that United States President Donald Trump wants back in, but he also wants more concessions.

It’s not clear that the TPP nations, having been spurned earlier by Trump, are interested in another round of negotiations with his administration.


Ontario Farmer
March 6th, 2018