Locals learn about CETA at export forum

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This article was published 20/03/2018 (2798 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s no point in signing trade agreements with other nations unless you let business leaders from across the nations in question know about it.

This, Free Trade Agreement Promotion Task Force director Sanjeev Chowdhury said, is what drove the federal government to launch its ongoing national education tour at Canadian cities.

Partnering with Manitoba Trade and Investment and Global Affairs Canada, Chowdhury headed the European Union Export Business Forum at Brandon’s Keystone Centre on Monday, where some of the movers and shakers of local commerce gathered to learn a bit more about The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Signed only six months ago, Chowdhury said that there’s still a great deal of education that needs to be done before Canadians are fully abreast of the potential that lies within the trade agreement between Canada and the EU.

In short, CETA increases the number of tariff-free goods from 25 per cent to 98 per cent.

Joining Chowdhury were three Embassy of Canada senior trade commissioners specializing in the Netherlands, Berlin and Austria.

Canadian citizens stationed at Embassy of Canada offices in these countries, these senior trade commissioners are Canada’s on-the-ground links to commerce overseas.

Berlin senior trade commissioner Christopher MacLean said that while there’s a great deal of untapped trade potential in Germany, breaking into that marketplace isn’t exactly cut and dried.

“It’s pretty hard to try to get into the market based on pricing, but there are a number of niches where we figure Canadian products are well-positioned to do even better in the market,” he said.

Big on non-GMO organics, pesticide and hormone-free quality meats, he said that Canadian producers might better tap into the EU market by changing their farming practices to accommodate needs outside of their borders.

Keystone Agricultural Producers vice-president Bill Campbell said that while there are “tremendous amounts of challenges to be able to participate in the CETA agreement in Manitoba,” it’s important work that needs to take place.

“It’s a huge, huge market. There are a lot of consumers, but a lot of things have to happen before we get it to the farm gate to the European consumer,” he said.

Given the protectionist rhetoric of Canada’s neighbours to the south, he said that agricultural producers need to take a harder look at accommodating a more diversified marketplace.

“It’s the challenge of getting people to think beyond the U.S.,” Chowdhury said, adding that Canada carries a great history in dealing with their neighbours to the south. “Everybody should look at expanding their markets.”

There’s a great deal of potential with CETA — it’s just a matter of finding out the best means of tapping into it, Behlen Industries business development and marketing manager Rosa Villamizar said during a break from Monday;’s sessions.

While the local company has tapped into the Eastern European marketplace, it has yet to embrace the EU.

“We’re just trying to grow in different avenues,” she said. “As of this moment, we’re just prospective.”

The same can be said for neighbouring economic development managers Tanis Chalmers and Liza Park, from the RM of Pipestone and Town of Virden, respectively.

With both municipalities’ economies centred on agriculture and oil, they said that the forum was about learning how, or whether, they should take advantage of CETA.

Yesterday’s presentation was scheduled to be followed up by a similar gathering on Tuesday in Winnipeg.

In a written statement, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Petersen said that in addition to these meetings, the government would also participate in trade shows taking place in the European Union and work with Manitoba companies interested in accessing the European marketplace.

Last year, the EU was Manitoba’s fourth-largest destination for domestic exports, totalling $593 million.

The leading exports to the EU were copper ores/concentrates, canola products, wheat and pharmaceutical products, both bulk and measured/packed.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

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